April 7, 2004

Employee Benefits Security Administration Issues Field Assistance Bulletin on Health Savings Accounts

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.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 released a Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) providing enforcement guidance to field investigators on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

April 5, 2004

Labor Department Sues Michigan Firms, Owner and Plan Trustee For Misusing 401(k) Plan Assets

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Grand Rapids, Michigan - The U.S. Department of Labor sued Kalamazoo, Michigan-based companies Magic P.I. & Security, Inc., and Magic Civil Process, Inc., the companies’ owner and the 401(k) plan trustee of Magic P.I. for misusing $511,157 in plan assets.

April 5, 2004

Former President of Georgia Corporation Indicted For Embezzlement and Healthcare Fraud

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

March 31, 2004

Deputy Assistant Secretary Named for Employee Benefits Security Administration

WASHINGTON—The U. S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced the appointment of Bradford P. Campbell to the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy.

Mr. Campbell directs the policy, legislative and research functions of the agency that administers the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). He serves as a liaison to other government agencies and the private sector on a variety of issues relating to ERISA.

March 31, 2004

Labor Department Resolves Lawsuit with Administrator of Maryland Health Plans

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The U. S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment permanently barring the president of SAI Plus in Rockville, Md., from serving as a fiduciary or doing business with any employee benefit plan governed by federal benefits law.

March 30, 2004

Labor Department Offers Employers Database of
Qualified College Students with Disabilities Who Seek Summer and Permanent Jobs

WASHINGTON—A free database that identifies almost 1,600 qualified college students and recent graduates with disabilities who seek summer and permanent job openings is being made available to government and private sector employers.

March 29, 2004

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule
Requiring Government Contractors to Post Union Members' Rights

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor published final regulations today implementing Executive Order 13201, which requires government contractors and subcontractors to post notices informing their employees of their rights relating to union membership and the use of their union dues and fees.

“When everyone is informed of the law, workers, employers and unions all win,” said Victoria A. Lipnic, Assistant Secretary for Employment Standards. “We are charged with and committed to protecting workers and enforcing laws that guard their wages, their safety and their rights.”

March 29, 2004

Siemens Building Technologies Agrees to Pay
Employees $1.2 Million in Alleged Unpaid Overtime

SEATTLE—The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the filing of a consent judgment in which Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., of Bellevue agrees to pay 52 employees $1,204,203 in overtime back wages for alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

March 25, 2004

Pension Agency Extends Comment Period On Electronic Filing of Form 5500Annual Reports

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

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has extended to May 5, 2004 the deadline for providing comments on proposed changes to the ERISA Filing Acceptance System (EFAST).

March 25, 2004

Labor Department Sues Defunct Cleveland Company’s Trustee To Restore Employee Contributions to 401(k) Plan

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

Cleveland, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Labor sued the former trustee of the 401(k) plan of defunct White’s Information Systems, Inc., of Cleveland, Ohio, for failing to forward to the account contributions withheld from employees’ paychecks.

March 23, 2004

Former Employee of Florida Ironworkers Union Sentenced for Embezzling From Welfare Plan

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

March 23, 2004

Labor Department Obtains $4.875 Million Settlement for Plans Invested with Oregon Investment Manager

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

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor has filed settlement agreements providing for restitution of $4.875 million to 12 pension and welfare plans in California, Nevada and Utah that invested plan assets in risky private placement schemes with Capital Consultants LLC. The consent orders also require payment of $975,000 in civil penalties to the government.

March 22, 2004

DOL Stepping Up Compliance Assistance Efforts:
Department Launches New Partnership Program

Department Launches New Partnership Program

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) today launched a program aimed at promoting greater awareness and compliance with DOL’s employment laws through partnerships and activities with nonprofit stakeholder organizations. The new Partnerships for Compliance Assistance Program (PCAP) will complement DOL’s public outreach efforts and help protect the wages, health benefits, retirement security, safety and health of America’s workforce.

March 18, 2004

Media Advisory - HIPAA and Other Health Laws: Nevada Compliance Assistance Seminar

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

Washington, DC - The Compliance Assistance Seminar sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the Nevada Department of Insurance, will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 28-29, 2004 at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino, 3801 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada.

March 15, 2004

Labor Department Sues Defunct Ohio Construction Company And Trustee Over Delinquent 401(k) Contributions

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

Cleveland, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued defunct Allied Construction Group, Inc., of North Olmsted, Ohio, and its 401(k) plan trustee for failing to remit employee contributions to the plan and retaining the contributions with company’s general assets.

March 15, 2004

Labor Department Obtains $2.4 Million Judgment Against Union Labor Life Insurance Co. and Investment Manager

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

WASHINGTON—The U. S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring Washington, D.C.-based Trust Fund Advisors (TFA) and Union Labor Life Insurance Co. to pay $2.4 million in restitution to two Laborers International Union pension funds and civil penalties to the Labor Department.

March 15, 2004

Labor Department Restores Assets To Iowa Company’s Profit Sharing Plan

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

Des Moines, Iowa - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent decree requiring the former owner of Valley Restaurant, Inc., of Atlantic, Iowa, to restore $39,751 to the company’s profit sharing plan for failing to diversify the plan’s investments.

March 15, 2004

Labor Department Obtains Judgment Restoring $68,500 to 401(k) Plan

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

Seattle, Washington - Kevin C. Stamper, the former principal of Seattle-based Pro Air Inc. and the 401(k) trustee, must repay $68,500 to the plan, as restitution for failing to forward employee contributions and loan repayments to the plan, the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.

March 11, 2004

Department of Labor Policies Reducing Barriers to
Employment for People with Disabilities, Deputy Secretary Steven J. Law Says

WASHINGTON—Deputy Labor Secretary Steven J. Law said today that the Labor Department’s programs and policies are helping to reduce barriers to employment for those with disabilities.