WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration announced today that plan sponsors seeking fiduciary relief for a service provider’s failure to comply with the department’s plan-level fee disclosure rule will be able to use a new online filing system, replacing the option of electronically sending notices to a previously established email address.

WASHINGTON – A meeting of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council, will take place Sept. 25 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. EDT. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in Room 4 of Suite C-5521, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210.

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against defendants Dietrich & Associates Inc., an insurance brokerage firm in Plymouth Meeting, and its chief executive officer and sole shareholder, Kurt E. Dietrich, to disgorge $522,047 plus interest gained from illegal activities related to the company’s role as fiduciary to a hospital pension plan. The department’s suit is based on an investigation conducted by its Employee Benefits Security Administration that found violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

ELMHURST, Ill. – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration and resulting lawsuit, a federal court has issued a default judgment against Elmhurst-based A.B.D. Tank & Pump Co. to restore $2,767,051 to the company’s retirement plan.  Keith Davis, the company’s president and sole owner, allegedly depleted the assets of the plan through a series of withdrawals and transfers to himself and the company from Dec. 6, 2006, through Nov. 4, 2010, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Date of Action: Aug, 22, 2012

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendant: Ricky N. Coley of West Bloomfield, Mich.

BOSTON – USI Advisors Inc. has agreed to pay $1,265,608.70 to 13 pension plans to resolve alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Date of Action: Aug. 21, 2012

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant: Bruce E. Spencer, Tannile Elizabeth Ortiz and Paul Olzeski, as fiduciaries to the Spencer & Associates, LLC Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued to restore more than $34 million in assets to two retirement funds of Michigan-based vehicle parts manufacturer Metavation LLC that allegedly were used in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Date of Action: Aug. 10, 2012

Type of Action: Consent order and judgment

Names of Defendant: Ben Richmond, Family Mobile Medical Services, Inc., and the Family Mobile Medical Retirement Plan

Allegations: Richmond and Family Mobile Medical Services, Inc., in their capacity as fiduciaries to the Family Mobile Medical Retirement Plan, failed to ensure that $8,965.94, in employee contributions for the period of April 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008, were forwarded to the plan.

Date of Action:  August 15, 2012

Type of Action:  Consent order and judgment

Names of Defendants: Jack A. Helmick, individually and as a fiduciary to the Dynamis Group 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan & Trust

ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will host a retirement plan compliance assistance seminar in North Charleston, S.C., on Sept. 11. The seminar is designed to help small business owners understand their fiduciary responsibilities when operating private sector retirement plans. It is free and open to the first 100 registrants.

Date of Action:  Aug. 3, 2012

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendant:Dayton Imaging Solutions, Inc., Bryan Belden, and the Dayton Imaging Solutions, Inc. SIMPLE IRA Plan located in Dayton, Ohio.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, will meet Aug. 28-30 at Labor Department headquarters, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210, in Room C5521-4. The meeting will run from 9 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. on Aug. 28 and 29, and from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 30.

Date of Action: July 27, 2012

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Gary Merritt, as fiduciary to the Bemcore, Inc. Incentive Plan, Bemcore, Inc. and Bemcore, Inc. Incentive Plan in Dayton, Ohio

Date of Action: July 20, 2012

Type of Action: Consent order and judgment

Names of Defendants: James H. Trotter, Sr.; Sylvia Trotter; Trotter Construction Company, Inc.; Trotter Development Group NC, LLC, and The Trotter Construction Company, Inc. 401(K) Plan, located in Indianapolis, Ind.

CLIFFWOOD BEACH, N.J. ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit seeking to recover losses suffered by participants in the SJP Group Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The department’s suit is based on an investigation conducted by its Employee Benefits Security Administration that found violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will hold a free women’s retirement savings forum on Saturday, July 28, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. CDT, at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Student Center East Building, Illinois Room A, 750 S. Halsted St., Chicago, Ill. 60607. “What Every Woman Should Know About Retirement Savings and How to Make It Last” will be open to the public and the media.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration has announced improved procedures for plan sponsors who wish to obtain fiduciary relief for a service provider’s failure to comply with the department’s plan-level fee disclosure rule. http://webapps.dol.gov/FederalRegister/HtmlDisplay.aspx?DocId=26218&AgencyId=8&DocumentType=2

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor that followed an investigation by its Employee Benefits Security Administration, a federal judge has ordered the president of Columbus-based Clark Graphics, Mary Clark, to restore $505,551.46 to the company’s two employee retirement plans. Additionally, Marcia Dowdell, the president of Pension Retirement Planning who served as administrator for the plans, has been ordered to restore funds to both plans.

SAN FRANCISCO ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance will host a two-day health benefits laws compliance seminar in Billings, Mont., for small and mid-size employers, third-party administrators and insurers July 25 and 26. The seminar is designed to provide practical information, helpful tips and clarification regarding federal as well as state laws. The event is free, and interested parties are encouraged to register early.