April 6, 2006

Labor Department Expands Exemption for Interest-Free Loans to Employee Benefit Plans

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced publication of a final amendment to the class exemption on interest-free loans.

April 6, 2006

Labor Department Files Suit to Protect Participants of Abandoned Clifton, New Jersey Retirement Plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Clifton, New Jersey - The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit requesting that an independent fiduciary be appointed to distribute the assets of the 401 (k) plan of Data-Tech Institute, a defunct Clifton, New Jersey company. The plan has been without oversight since the company ceased operations in 1998.

April 6, 2006

U.S. Labor Department Sues Fiduciary for Abandoning Denver-Based Company’s 401(k) Plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Denver, Colorado - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the fiduciary of the Denver-based AMS Industries Inc. 401(k) plan for abandoning the plan and failing to distribute the assets to plan participants.

April 5, 2006

Department of Labor Announces New Leadership
At Bureau of International Labor Affairs

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced today a new leadership team at the Labor Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). James Carter starts this week as deputy undersecretary of labor for international labor affairs, and ILAB Chief of Staff Rob Owen has been promoted to associate deputy undersecretary for international labor affairs.

April 5, 2006

Labor Department Sues to Appoint Independent Trustee for Abandoned Cincinnati 401(k) Plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Cincinnati, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Labor sued in federal district court in Cincinnati to appoint an independent trustee for the abandoned retirement plan of locally-based Cincinnati Armature Works Inc., which ceased doing business in October 2004.

April 5, 2006

Health Law Compliance Seminar May 9 and 10 in Albuquerque

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Dallas, Texas - A health law compliance assistance seminar, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the New Mexico Insurance Division of the Public Regulation Commission, will take place May 9-10 in Albuquerque at the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town.

April 4, 2006

U.S. Department of Labor's Annabelle Lockhart to
Receive 2006 National Public Service Award

OASAM News Release: [04/04/2006] Contact Name: Peggy Abrahamson or Public Affairs Phone Number: 202-693-7909 or 202-693-4676 Release Number: 06-595-NAT

April 3, 2006

Labor Department's Wage Hour Division to
Participate in Department of Justice Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its participation in the U.S. Department of Justice Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force. Participation by the department's Wage and Hour Division will enable better coordination and prosecution of violations of wage and hour laws.

March 31, 2006

U.S. Labor Department Obtains Court Order Restoring More Than $39,000 to 401(k) Plan of Former Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Company

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

Miami, Florida - The U.S. Labor Department has obtained a consent judgment ordering restoration of more than $39,000 to the 401(k) plan of former Telcon Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

March 31, 2006

U.S. Labor Department Obtains Settlement to Restore Funds to Lincolnwood, Illinois, Profit Sharing Plan

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

Chicago, Illinois - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a settlement requiring that $7,663.88 be paid to the participants and beneficiaries of the Mid-Continent Screw Products Profit Sharing Plan. Judith Hirsch, president of the Lincolnwood, Illinois-based plan, will be handling distribution of the assets to individuals entitled to benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

March 31, 2006

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Appoints 2006 ERISA Advisory Council and Leadership Posts

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

Washington, DC - Today Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced the appointment of five new members for the 2006 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans and this year’s leadership for the council. New members are appointed to serve three-year terms.

March 30, 2006

Rhode Island Employer Agrees to Restore Funds to 401(k) Plan to Settle U.S. Labor Department Lawsuit

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

Boston, Massachusetts - Matthias E. Lukens, president of the now-defunct e-tel Corp., of West Warwick, Rhode Island, has agreed to repay over $38,000 to the company’s 401(k) plan to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor alleging violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

March 30, 2006

U.S. Labor Department Sues Trustee of Columbus, Nebraska, 401(k) Plan

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

Columbus, Nebraska - The U.S. Department of Labor filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Nebraska against the trustee of the Columbus Irrigation Inc. 401(k) plan for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

March 29, 2006

Former Plan Administrator Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $20,000 From Riggers’ Welfare Plan

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

March 28, 2006

Labor Department Sues Glendale Firm for at Least
$900,000 in Unpaid Back Wages and Damages

Janitors Cleaned Movie Theaters throughout Southern California

SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the filing of a lawsuit against Glendale, California-based, Janitorial Carpet's Maintenance for minimum wage, overtime pay and recordkeeping violations of federal law. The violations resulted from the employer's improper classification of workers as independent contractors.

March 28, 2006

U.S. Labor Department Obtains Settlement for Boise, Idaho Health Plan

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

Boise, Idaho - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a settlement that will protect the medical benefits of participants in a health plan sponsored by Employers Resource Management Company (ERM) of Boise, Idaho.

March 27, 2006

U.S. Labor Department Sues Owner of Defunct Minnesota Firm To Protect Simple IRA Plan Employee Contributions

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

Minneapolis, Minnesota - The U.S. Department of Labor has filed an adversary complaint against Karl R. Hunt, president and sole owner of K-H Construction, Inc, Medford, Minnesota, to prevent Hunt from discharging a debt of $4,672.12 owed to the company’s Simple IRA Plan.

March 23, 2006

Labor Department Resolves Pension Law Violations to Protect Assets of Minnesota 401(k) Plan

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

Minneapolis, Minnesota - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent order resolving violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) related to delinquent employee contributions and loan repayments to the Granse & Associates Inc. 401(k) profit sharing plan in Lakeville, Minnesota. After the department sued the company and plan trustees, the defendants restored $182,126.85 to the plan.

March 23, 2006

U.S. Labor Department Obtains Judgment Ordering Payment of More Than $1.3 Million to Long Island, New York, 401(k) Plan

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

New York, New York - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment ordering payment of over $1.3 million to a 401(k) plan sponsored by Lawrence Aviation Industries Inc. of Port Jefferson Station, New York. The judgment resolves a lawsuit against the company, a manufacturer of titanium products for the aerospace industry, and its owner.

March 21, 2006

Labor Department Announces New Mailing Addresses For Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program

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

Note To Editors: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced new addresses for the submission of penalty payments and annual report copies (Forms 5500) under the Department’s Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVC). Effective April 11, 2006, the addresses for submissions are: