WASHINGTON – The U.S.

Date of action:           Dec. 12, 2024

Type of action:          Consent judgment

Employers:                 MSES Consultants Inc., Lawrence Rine

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Employee Benefits Security Administration has issued a proposed regulation under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act on the valuation of employer stock acquired or sold by an employee stock ownership plan. 

PORTLAND, OR – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. and the R.B. Pamplin Corp. to restore at least $20,600,000 in assets to the company’s pension plan after the plan’s unlawful acquisition of company-owned real estate  jeopardized the retirement security of thousands of the company’s employees.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced an enforcement relief policy to provide retirement plan fiduciaries with an option to help manage small benefit amounts owed to individuals who cannot be located.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced updates to its Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program, providing employers and other plan officials with more efficient ways to voluntarily correct compliance issues in retirement, health and other employee benefit plans. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the appointment of five new members and leadership for the 2025 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council.

The 15-member council provides advice on policies and regulations affecting employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor will hold its final meeting of the 2024 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, on Dec. 12-13 at the department’s headquarters in Washington.

The meeting is open to the public and accessible online and via teleconference.

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Employee Benefits Security Administration joined the IRS and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. in releasing informational copies of the 2024 Form 5500, Form 5500-SF, IRS Form 5500-EZ, IRS Form 5558 and related instructions online. 

CHICAGO – A federal court has approved a plan to make a final distribution of $12 million in assets to health plan participants and medical providers harmed by a multiple employer welfare arrangement, known as a MEWA. This distribution arises from a litigation brought by the U.S. Department of Labor after an investigation found mismanagement by the former fiduciaries of AEU Holdings LLC Employee Benefit Plan caused about $83 million in health claims to be wrongly billed to participants. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration today issued a notice requesting information from retirement plan administrators that will allow it to begin populating the Retirement Savings Lost and Found database, an online search tool to help America’s workers locate lost retirement savings they earned.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has issued guidance and provided relief for participants and beneficiaries and employee benefit plans affected by Hurricane Helene and by Hurricane Milton.

Date of action:           November 5, 2024

Type of action:          Complaint filing

Defendants:               Suffolk Administrative Services LLC, San Juan, Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Employee Benefits Security Administration has issued a report illustrating how the American Rescue Plan has protected the financially distressed pension plans of more than 1.2 million U.S. workers, retirees and their families, ensuring they receive the retirement benefits they earned. 

WASHINGTON – The Department of Labor will hold its next meeting of the 2024 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, on Oct. 22. Open to the public, the online meeting is also accessible via teleconference.

Date of action:                       Sept. 25, 2024

Type of action:                      

Civil confinement of Bryan Hill, owner of defunct Bicallis LLC, arising from civil contempt

Date of action:           Sept. 22, 2024

Type of action:          Complaint

Court:                         

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the launch of a webpage that marks the 50th anniversary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and reflects on the landmark law’s impact on the retirement security of America’s workers. 

PORTLAND, OR – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon against Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. and R.B. Pamplin Corporation for jeopardizing millions of dollars in retirement funds for thousands of employees because of the unlawful acquisition of company-owned real estate by the R.B. Pamplin Corporation and Subsidiaries Pension Plan.

Date of Action:          Sept.