SEATTLE — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington that temporarily freezes the account balance of Brenda Lukas-Jones, former president of Lukas Machine Inc., in the company's 401(k) profit sharing plan and trust. On April 14, the department filed a complaint against Lukas Machine Inc., Lukas-Jones and others, alleging that they had violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act between April 2008 and October 2011, causing more than $41,000 in losses to the 401(k) plan.

SEATTLE — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington that temporarily freezes the account balance of Brenda Lukas-Jones, former president of Lukas Machine Inc., in the company's 401(k) profit sharing plan and trust. On April 14, the department filed a complaint against Lukas Machine Inc., Lukas-Jones and others, alleging that they had violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act between April 2008 and October 2011, causing more than $41,000 in losses to the 401(k) plan.

Date of Action: April 17, 2014

Type of Action: Default Judgment

Date of Action: March 28, 2014

Type of Action: Amended Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant: Roadrunner Material Distributors Inc.; Roadrunner Material Distributors Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

JOHNSTON, Iowa — Iowa-based investment advisor Donald Gene DeWaay Jr. has paid $341,487 to 68 pension plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The payments were made as part of a settlement agreement following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration.

Date of Action: March 27, 2015

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: James H. Carmichael, The Specialty Restaurant Group LLC 401(k) Plan, and The Specialty Restaurant Group LLC Group Health Plan

Date of Action: April 8, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Judgment

Name(s) of Defendant(s): David O. Nyanjom, Laura Nyanjom, Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Associates, P.A and Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Associates, P.A. 401(k) Plan

Allegations: Based on an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration,, the Secretary of Labor filed a complaint alleging as follows:

Date of Action: April 1, 2014

Type of Action: Default Judgment

Name(s) of Defendant(s): William Kristen Hathaway and the Baltimore Behavioral Health 403(b) plan

Allegations: Based on an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Secretary of Labor filed a complaint on Nov. 1, 2013, alleging as follows:

Date of Action: March 28, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

Names of Defendant: Richard J. Jurczykowski, Richard A. Lindahl, Guardian Graphics, Ltd., Guardian Graphics Ltd. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

Date of Action: March 28, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendant: Heatech Inc. and Michael Fitzmeyer, in their capacity as fiduciaries of the Heatech Inc. Retirement Plan

Date of Action: March 25, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Cargill Heating & Air Conditioning Co. Inc., Michael Earl Galstad, and Cargill Heating & Air Conditioning Co. Inc. Savings Plan in La Crosse, Wis.

TUCKER, Ga. – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Distribution by Datagen Inc., formerly known as Depawix Health Resources Inc. of Tucker, and several companies and individuals involved in the imprudent marketing and operation of a Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Date of Action: March 20, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Name(s) of Defendant: Louis & Riparetti Inc., Darrel Louis, and the Louis & Riparetti Retirement Plan

Allegations: The U.S. Department of Labor filed a lawsuit on April 10, 2012, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to recover unremitted employee contributions, uncollected employer contributions, and associated lost opportunity costs for the Louis & Riparetti Inc. Retirement Plan.  

Date of Action: March 25, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant: Edward J. Sajovic and the Edward J. Sajovic Design LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

Allegations: The plan was established in January 2011 to provide retirement benefits for employees of Edward J. Sajovic Design LLC, a company specializing in the design of holiday displays for stores with a last known address of 10-39 44th Dr., Long Island City, N.Y. Edward Sajovic and John Cuozzo were the plan trustees. John Hancock Financial Services has been the custodian of the plan’s assets.

Air Gage Co. 401(k) Plan & Air Gage Co. Health Care Plan in Livonia, Mich.

Date of Action: March 27, 2014

Type of Action: Petition for Civil Contempt, Order to Show Cause

Name of Defendant: Thomas Fernandes, individually and as a fiduciary to the Air Gage Company 401(k) Plan and Air Gage Company Health Care Plan

Contempt Petition: Fernandes, in his capacity as a fiduciary to the Air Gage Company 401(k) Plan and Air Gage Company Health Care Plan, is liable to the plans for $11,143.21.

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to seek the appointment of an independent fiduciary and trustee to administer an abandoned New York City pension benefit plan. The plan has $308,438 in assets and 26 participants.

Date of Action: March 17, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

Name of Defendant: Richard Sippola, individually, and as fiduciary of the Carnegie Body Company 401(k) Retirement Plan

Allegations: Richard Sippola, individually and as fiduciary of the Carnegie Body Company 401(k) Retirement Plan failed to ensure that employee pre-tax contributions and loan repayments for the period March 13, 2009, through Jan. 10, 2010, were remitted to the Carnegie Body Company 401(k) Retirement Plan. The company is located in Cleveland.

Date of Action: March 6, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant: Council on Economic Priorities Inc. 403(b) Retirement Plan

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today announced the appointments of five new members to the 2014 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. He also announced the 2014 chair and vice chair of the council, which are Neal S. Schelberg and Paul M. Secunda respectively.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today requested public comments on a proposed rule that would require pension plan service providers to furnish employers and other plan fiduciaries with a guide to assist them in navigating fee disclosure documents.