CHICAGO – Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor and resulting lawsuit, a federal court has issued a default judgment against the co-founder and director of the now defunct Elmhurst-based investment management company Results One Financial LLC. Steven Salutric has been ordered to restore $1,211,902.25 to four pension plan client accounts from which he allegedly withdrew funds from 2005 through 2009 in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Missouri Department of Insurance will host a two-day health benefits laws compliance seminar for small- and mid-sized employers, third-party administrators and insurers in the St. Louis area. The seminar is designed to provide practical information, helpful tips, and clarification regarding federal and state laws. The free event is open to the public and the media, and interested parties are encouraged to register early.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration is soliciting nominations to fill five three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. The deadline to submit nominations is Aug. 3.

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will host a retirement plan compliance assistance seminar in Manhattan on June 13. The seminar is designed to help small business owners understand their fiduciary responsibilities when operating private sector retirement plans. It is free and open to the first 90 registrants.

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will host a retirement plan compliance assistance seminar in Boston June 6. The seminar is designed to help small business owners understand their fiduciary responsibilities when operating private sector retirement plans. It is free and open to the first 90 registrants.

WEEHAWKEN, N.J. ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a court order appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned 401(k) plan of Worldwide Trade Resources Inc., formerly located in Weehawken. As of Jan. 31, 2011, the latest information available, the plan had 52 participants and assets totaling approximately $2.2 million.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho against Matthew D. Hutcheson alleging that he violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The complaint alleges that, toward the end of 2010, Hutcheson used more than $3.2 million representing the retirement plan savings of workers from multiple employers for his own personal expenses and in an attempt to purchase an interest in the Tamarack Resort — a failed ski and golf resort in Idaho.

LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Department of Labor has reached an agreement with a California fruit and nut company to restore a total of $1,287,901 to the company's pension plan. In a consent judgment entered this month in the U.S. District Court's Central District in Los Angeles, officers of Los Angeles-based Western Mixers Inc. agreed to restore $802,901to participants' accounts within 10 days. During the course of the investigation leading up to the lawsuit, the company repaid to the plan $485,000 of the total funds identified as missing.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration has issued guidance meant to help plan administrators and service providers comply with the requirements of new rules improving the transparency of fees and investment expenses in retirement plans. A set of frequently asked questions and answers is published in Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2012-02.

SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking to recover losses suffered by participants in the Parrot Cellular Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP. The department's suit is based on an investigation conducted by its Employee Benefits Security Administration that found violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a complaint in federal court seeking to restore a total of $63,582.14 in health care premiums and retirement plan contributions withheld from the paychecks of employees at several companies that are part of the JJD Industries group in Schiller Park, Ill.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration will hold a free retirement savings forum on Saturday, April 28, from 12:30–3:30 p.m. EDT at Spelman College Albro-Falconer-Manley Science Center, Room 134, 350 Spelman Lane SW, Atlanta, Ga. 30314. Hosted in coordination with the Economics Department at Spelman College, the "African-Americans and Retirement: What You Should Know Before It's Too Late" forum is open to the public and the media.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Morgan Keegan and Co. Inc. has agreed to pay $633,715.46 to 10 pension plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. This agreement follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration that found the full-service brokerage company violated federal law when it recommended certain hedge funds of funds as investments to its ERISA-covered employee benefit plan clients. These recommendations resulted in the hedge funds of funds paying Morgan Keegan revenue-sharing and other fees.

INDIANAPOLIS – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a complaint in federal court seeking to restore $256,457.08, plus lost opportunity costs, to the Heartland Foods Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. Based on the findings of an investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the complaint alleges that co-owners Karen S.

WASHINGTON – As part of National Financial Capability Month, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will host a webinar designed to help college seniors and young workers get on track to pay down debt and start saving for retirement. “Key Financial Steps for College Seniors and Young Workers” will be held from 4-5:15 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 18.

SAN FRANCISCO – Fresno-based Explore General Inc. and Jaime M. Gonzalez have been ordered to restore $519,601 to the company’s 401(k) profit-sharing plan, according to the terms of a judgment and order entered in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

STAFFORD, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and order resolving a lawsuit filed against Stephen B. Hobbs, former chief financial officer of defunct L.A. Utilities Inc., for failing to forward employee contributions and loan repayments to the company’s 401(k) plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration will host a free Spanish-language webcast, "The Affordable Care Act: Important New Protections for You and Your Family," on Wednesday, April 10, at 2 p.m. EDT.

MOORESTOWN, N.J. ‒ The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a judgment and order appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the 401(k) plan of defunct Thermacon Industries Inc., formerly located in Moorestown.

The judgment resolves a lawsuit filed by the Labor Department in May 2011 alleging that Thermacon Industries violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The suit charged that, after the company ceased operations in 2004, its fiduciaries failed to terminate the retirement plan and distribute its assets, which are valued at $242,159.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced two upcoming webcasts to increase awareness and understanding of basic responsibilities associated with operating private sector retirement plans.

“Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities” webcasts will take place on Tuesday, March 27 and Wednesday, March 28 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. EDT. The webcasts are part of the agency’s national fiduciary education campaign and will feature speakers from the department.