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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.\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

March 11, 2004

Labor Department Sues to Appoint Independent Fiduciary To Chicago Medical Center’s Abandoned 401(k) Plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Chicago, Illinois - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Edgewater Medical Center of Chicago to obtain a court-appointed independent fiduciary to manage the defunct center’s 401(k) plan and distribute more than $1 million in assets to 293 participants.

March 11, 2004

Labor Department Obtains Judgment Restoring More Than $300,000 To Ohio Profit Sharing Plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

March 9, 2004

Labor Department Projects Boost Women's Prospects
Worldwide: International Women's Day and Week Highlight Administration's
Efforts to Improve Social and Economic Opportunities

International Women’s Day and Week Highlight Administration’s Efforts to Improve Social and Economic Opportunities

March 9, 2004

Labor Department Obtains Court Judgment To Restore Assets Of Cincinnati Profit Sharing Plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Cincinnati, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Labor obtained a default judgment on March 8, 2004, ordering the president of defunct Mershon Metal Maintenance, Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio, to restore $36,094 owed to the plan. The department sued Joseph Mershon for failing to forward employee contributions to the plan.

March 8, 2004

Labor Department Sues to Appoint Independent Fiduciary for Manhattan Record Distributor’s 401(k) Plan

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

New York, New York - The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit to obtain a court order appointing an independent fiduciary to manage the Edel America Records, Inc., 401 (k) plan in Manhattan and distribute more than $63,000 to 15 participants.

March 5, 2004

Labor Department Seeks Comments on Proposed Revamping of Electronic Filing for Annual Reports

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

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today is requesting public comments on proposed changes to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Filing Acceptance System (EFAST) to capitalize on web-based technology that promotes more cost-effective and efficient ways to serve America’s citizens.

March 4, 2004

Labor Department Acts to Restore Funds to California Company Pension Plan

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

March 3, 2004

Labor Department Official Testifies Before Senate Finance on Health Insurance Scams

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

WASHINGTON—Assistant Secretary of Labor Ann L. Combs today told Congress that the Bush Administration is attacking health scams through a three-pronged strategy designed to protect workers and their families from abusive health insurance schemes.

March 1, 2004

Labor Department Official Testifies on Oversight of Thrift Savings Plan

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

WASHINGTON—Alan D. Lebowitz, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), today presented testimony on the department’s oversight of the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The TSP benefits more than three million participants and beneficiaries covered by the retirement plan.

March 1, 2004

Labor Department Proposes Rule To Preserve Retirement Savings

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

March 1, 2004

Labor Department Official Testifies on Oversight of Thrift Savings Plan

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

WASHINGTON—Alan D. Lebowitz, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), today presented testimony on the department’s oversight of the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The TSP benefits more than three million participants and beneficiaries covered by the retirement plan.

March 1, 2004

Labor Department Sues Fiduciaries of Tulsa Health Arrangement Over Excessive Fees and Misrepresentations

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

Tulsa, Oklahoma - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the fiduciaries of Tulsa-based Provider Medical Trust for taking excessive fees and misrepresenting the trust’s solvency thereby causing the health trust millions of dollars in losses.