US Labor Department files lawsuit to recover more than $84,000 in missing retirement contributions from Denver area environmental engineering firm

Date of Action: July 16, 2015

Type of Action: Lawsuit

Name(s) of Defendant: Stewart Environmental Consultants LLC, located and doing business in Fort Collins, Colorado, and owner David Stewart

Allegations: An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment Benefits Security Administration revealed that from January 2012 to April 2014 employee wages intended for contribution to the retirement plan were withheld from employees' pay but were not forwarded timely or at all to the retirement plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

Resolution: The department seeks a court order requiring the restoration of all plan losses.

Court: U.S. District of Colorado

Civil Action Number: 1:15cv01509

Quote: "The employer had a duty to manage and protect the employees' benefit plans and their assets, yet they failed to do so," said James Purcell, director of the Kansas City Regional Office of the department's Employee Benefits Security Administration, which investigated this case. "The department will take every action necessary to restore plan assets that were not properly preserved for the company's workers."

Information: Employers and workers can reach EBSA's Kansas City office at 816-281-1800 or toll-free at 866-444-3272 for help with problems relating to private-sector retirement and health plans. Additional information can be found at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/.