November 30, 2005

U.S. Labor Department Acts to Improve Access of Hurricane Victims To 401(k) Loans and Withdrawals

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - Today the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), along with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), announced guidance for employers and plan officials relating to changes in the law that increase the amount of loan distributions permitted through 401(k) and similar employer-sponsored plans to participants affected by Hurricane Katrina.

November 22, 2005

U.S. Labor Department Sues Former Minneapolis Executives For Health Plan Mismanagement

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Chicago, Illinois - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued former executives of Riscomp Industries Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, for mismanagement of the firm’s health plan that left plan participants and their families with more than $2.1 million in unpaid health claims.

November 21, 2005

Southfield, Mich., Computer Staffing Firm to Pay $2.65 Million
In Back Wages and Penalties for Immigration Law Violations

DETROIT—Computech Inc., a Southfield, Mich., firm that places computer professionals at locations throughout the United States has agreed to pay $2,250,000 in back wages to 232 computer professionals and a $400,000 fine to settle immigration law violations, the U.S. Labor Department announced today.

November 17, 2005

Sudbury, Massachusetts Employer Restores More Than $10,600 to 401(k) Plan To Settle U.S. Labor Department Lawsuit

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Boston, Massachusetts - Landscape Design Inc., Sudbury, Massachusetts, and its owner have restored $10,678.93 to its 401(k) plan to resolve a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Labor Department that alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

November 15, 2005

U.S. Labor Department Sues to Recover Funds for Middle Tennessee Union’s Health Plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Atlanta, Georgia - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Joseph David Hodgin and the Labor Benefit Trust to recover more than $9,000 for a Nashville area Teamsters health benefits plan.

November 3, 2005

U.S. Labor Department Sues Connecticut Investment Firm to Restore Millions of Dollars Owed to Pension Plans

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Boston, Massachusetts - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Circle Trust Company (CTC) of Darien, Connecticut, to restore millions of dollars in losses on imprudent and risky investments with the Trust Advisors Stable Value Plus Fund (SVF), a collective trust administered by CTC. Circle Trust serves as a trustee to SVF, which had invested approximately $200 million from 1,500 pension plans nationwide.

November 2, 2005

Cambridge, Mass., Employer Agrees to Restore $130,000 to Retirement Plan to Settle U.S. Labor Department Lawsuit

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

Boston, Massachusetts - Charles J. Mailman and Chasma Scientific Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, will restore $130,000 to the company’s profit sharing plan to resolve a U.S. Labor Department lawsuit alleging violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

November 2, 2005

U.S. Labor Department Sues Owner of Bankrupt Grand Junction Company to Recoup Pension Assets for Unitel Workers

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

Grand Junction, Colorado - The U.S. Department of Labor has filed an adversary complaint in federal bankruptcy court against the owner of now-defunct Unitel, Inc., Grand Junction, Colorado, to prevent him from discharging more than $2,000 owed to participants of the company’s SIMPLE IRA plan.

October 31, 2005

U.S. Labor Department Extends Annual Reports Deadline After Hurricane Wilma Hits Florida

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

Atlanta, Georgia - In the wake of destruction in Florida from Hurricane Wilma, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced an extension of the deadline for filing Form 5500 and Form 5500-EZ annual report/returns.

October 28, 2005

Trustee Agrees to Future Restitution to Defunct Rochester, N.Y., Company’s Pension Plan - Agreement Settles U.S. Labor Department Lawsuit

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

Rochester, New York - Gary Ragan, trustee of the Flower City Insulation Savings and Investment Plan, has agreed, should he ever be able, to restore to the plan a total of $19,282, plus interest, to settle a U.S. Department of Labor lawsuit. The suit alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Rochester-based Flower City Insulation has been defunct since 2002.

October 26, 2005

Secretary of Labor Announces Seven Recipients
Of the Secretarys New Freedom Initiative Awards

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced today that one individual, three non-profits and three businesses have been selected to receive the Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative (NFI) Award for outstanding support of employment for people with disabilities.

October 26, 2005

Trustee of Green Bay, Wisconsin, 401(k) Plan To Repay $24,520 To Profit Sharing Plan

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

Chicago, Illinois - Jennifer L. Gillespie, former owner of the now-defunct Bay Technologies Inc., Green Bay, Wisconsin, has agreed to accept liability for $24,520.82 owed to the Bay Technologies 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, the U.S. Labor Department announced today.

October 24, 2005

$110,000 Payment to Plan Participant Will Settle U.S. Labor Department Lawsuit

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

Boston, Massachusetts - Joseph S. Buscone Management Inc., Milford, Massachusetts, and Joseph S. Buscone, president and treasurer of the company, have agreed to pay $110,000 to a former employee to settle a U.S. Department of Labor lawsuit alleging violations of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

October 20, 2005

U.S. Labor Department Obtains Court Order Restoring More than $17,200 to Atlanta Company’s Retirement Savings Plan

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

Atlanta, Georgia - The U.S. Labor Department has obtained a court order requiring Henry A. McLarty, the former head of Atlanta-based Clarion Resources Communications Corp., to restore $17,280 in losses and interest to Clarion’s retirement savings plan.

October 17, 2005

Labor Department Web Site Assists Hurricane Victims Locate Employee Benefit Plan Sponsors

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

October 12, 2005

U.S. Labor Department Obtains $700,000 Restoration to Michigan Plumbers and Pipefitters Pension Fund

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

October 11, 2005

U.S. Department of Labor Helps Hurricane Katrina Victims Preserve Health Benefits

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

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service, announced a further extension of a number of deadlines so workers and employers affected by Hurricane Katrina have additional time to make critical health coverage decisions.

October 7, 2005

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Minimum Wage Increase For Some American Samoa Industries

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) clarifies recordkeeping provisions concerning who is an applicant in the context of the Internet and related technologies. The final rule published in today's Federal Register applies to federal contractors who are subject to the recordkeeping provisions of the laws enforced by OFCCP.

October 7, 2005

Compliance Assistance Seminar for Retirement Plan Fiduciaries To Be Held November 2 in Cleveland

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

Cleveland, Ohio - “Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities,” a compliance assistance seminar sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), will take place in Eastlake, Ohio, November 2 at the Radisson Hotel and Suites, Cleveland-Eastlake, 35000 Curtis Blvd.

October 5, 2005

ERISA Advisory Council to Hold October Teleconferences

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

Washington - The three working groups of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans will convene by teleconference October 19-20 to discuss reports and recommendations to be submitted to the Secretary of Labor. The teleconference will be conducted from the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., Room N3437A, for those who wish to attend.