U.S. Department of Labor sues owner of north suburban Chicago business for failing to forward health care payments to insurer

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Chicago - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Lisa Anderson, doing business as Anderson Medical Centers LLC in north suburban Chicago, alleging that she failed to forward current employees’ contributions and former employees’ COBRA contributions to their medical insurer resulting in loss of their healthcare coverage.

The suit seeks to recover those contributions for the workers, including interest, and to bar Anderson from serving as a fiduciary to any plan covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The suit alleges that the contributions remained in the company’s business accounts. The medical centers are located in Northbrook, Buffalo Grove and Great Lakes, Illinois. Lisa Anderson continued to do business as Anderson Medical Centers LLC after the company’s LLC status was involuntarily dissolved in 2005.

“The department will act when plan fiduciaries fail to carry out their duty to protect the retirement plan assets held on behalf of participants,” said Steven Haugen, director of the department’s Chicago regional office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).

The suit, filed in federal district court in Chicago, resulted from an investigation conducted by EBSA’s Chicago office. Employers and workers can reach the office at 312.353.0900 or toll-free at 1.866.444.EBSA (3272), for help with problems relating to private-sector retirement and health plans.

In fiscal year 2006, EBSA achieved monetary results of $1.4 billion related to pension, 401(k), health and other benefits for millions of American workers and their families.

(Chao v. Anderson)
Civil Action No. 1:07-cv-03669

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.