U.S. Labor Department Obtains Court Order Restoring Over $700,000 to Maryland Engineering Firm’s Retirement Plans

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order requiring Information Systems and Networks (ISN), Bethesda, Maryland, and its president to pay more than $700,000 to the firm’s pension and profit sharing plans. The payment is restitution for contributions the employer failed to make from 1995 through 2003.

“The Department achieved a victory for workers in this case and we’re on track to restore over $700,000 to their pension plan," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This case is another strong message to fund managers that the Labor Department is committed to strong enforcement to protect workers’ pensions. In just the last year, this Administration recovered for workers and their families over $3 billion related to pension, 401(k), health and other benefits.”

In 2003, the plan fiduciaries, including company president and plan administrator Roma Malkani, were removed from their positions for violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The fiduciaries had attempted to transfer money from the plan to the company as reimbursement for expenses they claimed were incurred from 1994 through 2000. At the same time, the federal district court in Baltimore, Maryland, appointed an independent fiduciary to manage both plans.

ISN is an engineering and systems integration services firm and sponsors the pension and profit sharing plans. The pension plan covered as many as 1,000 participants at one time and is funded by employer contributions. The profit sharing plan is funded by employer and employee contributions.

This case resulted from an investigation conducted by the Washington, DC, District Office of the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). Employers and workers can contact the district office at 301.713.2000 or EBSA’s toll-free number, 1.866.444.EBSA (3272), for help with problems relating to private-sector pension and health plans.

(Chao v. Malkani)
Civil Action No. WDQ-00-3491

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.