2003 Newsroom

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

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December

• Labor Department Published Final Class Exemption On Settlement of Litigation [12/31/03]

• Labor Department Releases 2003 Form 5500 Annual Report and Guidance on Filing Requirements [12/29/03]

• Labor Department Sponsors Workshop on Complying With Federal Pension Law [12/22/03]

• Labor Department Sues Chicago Mobile Telephone Company and 401(k) Trustee For Delinquent Employee Contributions to Plan [12/22/03]

• Labor Department Sues Officers of Texas Professional Employee Organization Over Delinquent Plan Contributions [12/22/03]

• Labor Department Sues Albuquerque Company and Its 401(k) Plan Officials To Recover Delinquent Contributions [12/17/03]

• Labor Department Settles With Houston Aircraft Manufacturer Over Misuse of Employee Pension Contributions [12/17/03]

• Labor Department Sues Executive of Defunct Illinois Corporation To Prevent Avoidance of Debts Owed to Welfare Plans [12/09/03]

• Labor Department Proposes Rule to Streamline Registration by Investment Managers to Plans [12/08/03]

• Labor Department Seeks Independent Fiduciary To Manage Abandoned 401(k) Plan [12/04/03]

• Labor Department Sues Owners Of Houston Healthcare Facility For Misuse Of Plan Assets [12/03/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Court Order Preventing Former Texas Executive From Avoiding Debt To Plan [12/03/03]

• Labor Department Settles Lawsuit with Fiduciaries Of Bankrupt Ohio Industries Retirement and Health Plans [12/01/03]

November

• Federal and State Agencies Announce Actions Against Security Trust Company; Phoenix Bank will Undergo Orderly Dissolution and Close by March 31, 2004 [11/25/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Settlement with Ford Motor Company For Federal Benefit Plan Reporting Violations [11/25/03]

• Labor Department Sues Alabama Firm and Plan Officials Over Delinquent Employee Contributions [11/24/03]

• Labor Department Sues Houston Plan Official For Abandoning Profit Sharing Plan [11/20/03]

• U.S. Labor Department Seeks Appointment of Independent Fiduciary For Abandoned West Long Branch, N.J. 401(k) Plan [11/20/03]

• Labor Department Issues Reporting And Disclosure Guide for Employee Benefit Plans [11/20/03]

• New Data Show Record-Breaking Results From Strong Enforcement, Compliance Assistance [11/18/03]

• Defunct Houston Company and Trustee Sued to Restore Employee Contributions to 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan [11/17/03]

• Labor Department Proposes Exemption For U.S. Steel Corporation on In-Kind Pension Contribution [11/14/03]

• U.S. Department of Labor Extends Annual Reports Deadline After California Wildfires [11/13/03]

• U.S. Labor Department Restores $46,777 To Illinois Retirement Plans [11/12/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Judgment Preventing Former Trustee from Avoiding Debt to Plan [11/05/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Judgment Restoring Over $34,000 to Health and 401(k) Plans of Ohio Company [11/04/03]

• ERISA Advisory Council to Hold Final Meetings for 2003 [11/03/03]

October

• Labor Department Sues Executives of Indiana Marketing Firm For Failure to Prudently Manage Health Plan [10/30/03]

• Labor Department Sues Owner of Defunct Georgia Company Over Abandoned 401(k) Plan [10/30/03]

• Labor Department Sues Trustee of Wisconsin 401(k) Plan Over Delinquent Employee Contributions [10/29/03]

• Labor Department Sues Belgium Foundry Official For Failing To Forward Employee Contributions to 401(k) Plans [10/29/03]

• Labor Department Settlement Requires Plan Administrator To Terminate Cyrus Intersoft’s 401(k) Plan [10/23/03]

• Labor Department Sues Bankrupt Illinois Computer Firm Over Delinquent Employee Contributions [10/22/03]

• Labor Department Sues to Restore Assets to Pension Plan Of Pennsylvania Health Services Firm [10/22/03]

• Former Employee of Florida Ironworkers Union Indicted For Embezzling $30,000 From Welfare Plan [10/22/03]

• Labor Department Proposes Amendment To Exemption on Securities Lending [10/22/03]

• Labor Department Seeks Restitution and Independent Fiduciary For Retirement Saving Plan of Maryland Marketing Firm [10/21/03]

• Labor Department Sues Florida Insurer And Plan Trustee For Mismanagement of Pension Assets [10/16/03]

• Nevada Court Enters $7.3 Million Judgment Against Principals of Employers Mutual [10/14/03]

• Media Advisory - HIPAA and Other Health Laws: North Carolina Compliance Assistance Seminar [10/10/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Decision Replacing Officials of New York Union Plan - Affects Workers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey [10/08/03]

• New York Corporation and Owner Ordered to Restore $1.7 Million to Health and Welfare Plan [10/07/03]

September

• Labor Department Sues Chicago Meade Communications and 401(k) Trustee For Delinquent Employee Contributions to Plan [09/26/03]

• U.S. Department of Labor, IRS and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Extend Annual Reports Deadline After Hurricane Isabel [09/24/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Judgment Appointing Independent Fiduciary of Abandoned Westerville, Ohio 401(k) Plan [09/23/03]

• Labor Department Announces Proposed Effective Date Of COBRA Regulations Will Be Delayed [09/17/03]

• Labor Department Releases Advisory Opinion on Profile Information Provided by Retirement Plan Fiduciaries [09/12/03]

• ERISA Advisory Council to Hold September Teleconferences [09/11/03]

• Labor Department Proposes Amendment To Investment Management Exemption [09/02/03]

August

• Labor Department Sues Trustees Of Seven Union Pension And Health Plans Over Investments With Oregon Investment Manager [08/29/03]

• Labor Department Solicits Nominations For 2004 ERISA Advisory Council [08/27/03]

• Trustee To Restore Assets to Ohio Glass Company 401(K) Plan Under Judgment Obtained by Labor Department [08/21/03]

• Labor Department Sues Wisconsin Company and 401(k) Plan Trustees Over Delinquent Employee Contributions [08/20/03]

• Department of Labor, IRS and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Extend Annual Reports Deadline After Power Blackout [08/19/03]

• Labor Department Grants Exemption For Northwest Airlines Pension Contribution [08/18/03]

• Court Appoints Independent Fiduciary And Restores Assets to Retirement Plans of Maryland Companies [08/11/03]

• Labor Department Sues Iowa Contractor’s Officials For Not Forwarding Contributions to 401(k) Plan [08/06/03]

• Labor Department Settles With Bay Area Pension Plan Managers To Restore Funds To Plan [08/04/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Default Judgment Against Baltimore Company and 401(k) Trustee [08/04/03]

• Department of Labor Announces Compliance Assistance Guide For Qualified Medical Child Support Orders [08/04/03]

July

• Labor Department Sues to Restore Assets To New York Retirement Plan and Appoint Independent Fiduciary [07/30/03]

• Labor Department Testifies on Oversight of the Thrift Savings Plan [07/24/03]

• New Labor Department Web Site Can Help Millions Find Valuable Information On Health Benefits [07/21/03]

• Labor Department Seeks Appointment of Independent Fiduciary for Orphaned New Jersey Money Purchase Plan [07/18/03]

• Norwich, Connecticut, Employee Benefit Plan Officials Agree to Resolve Claims of Over $800,000 in Prohibited Loans and Imprudent Investments in Federal Lawsuit [07/18/03]

• Rhode Island Laborers’ Union Plan Officials Sued by U.S. Labor Department for Federal Employee Benefits Law Violations [07/16/03]

• Assistant Secretary Combs Testifies on Bush Proposal To Strengthen Defined Benefit Pension Plans [07/15/03]

• Labor Department Sues Fiduciaries of Illinois 401(k) and Medical Plans Over Delinquent Employee Contributions [07/10/03]

• Labor Department Names Independent Fiduciary for Defunct New York Corporation’s 401(k) Plan [07/07/03]

• Department of Labor Kansas City Regional Director Retiring After 39 Years of Federal Service [07/02/03]

• Abandoned New Jersey 401(K) Plan Sued by Labor Department For Failing to Release Participants’ Assets [07/02/03]

June

• Labor Department Sues Principals Of Florida-Based Health Plan Service Provider [06/24/03]

• Aroostook County, Maine, Profit Sharing Plan Fiduciaries Barred from Serving as Benefit Plan Trustees [06/16/03]

• Independent Fiduciary Named to Manage Penn’s Best, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan [06/12/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Court Order Restoring Assets To Wisconsin Company’s Simple IRA Plan [06/11/03]

• Media Advisory - HIPAA and Other Health Laws: Utah Compliance Assistance Seminar [06/09/03]

• Labor Department Proposes Class Exemption For Trust REITS [06/02/03]

May

• Labor Department Names Independent Trustee To Terminate “Orphaned” Coastal Copy Systems 401(K) Plan [05/28/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Consent Judgment Against Indiana Longshoremen’s Local Trustees Over Misuse of Fund Assets [05/27/03]

• Labor Department Proposes Rules on Notices For COBRA Continuation Health Care Coverage [05/23/03]

• Pasadena Employer Ordered To Restore 401(K) Plan Contributions - Labor Department Takes Action to Protect Employees’ Benefits [05/21/03]

• Labor Department Sues Minnesota Plan Administrator For Abandoning 401(k) Plan [05/21/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Final Settlement of Lawsuit Against U.S. Alliance Fiduciaries [05/21/03]

• EBSA Releases Field Assistance Bulletin on Allocation of Expenses by Defined Contribution Plans [05/20/03]

• Labor Department Sues Minnesota Company and Officials for Failing to Forward Employee Contributions to 401(k) Plan [05/19/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Judgments Restoring Employee Contributions of Tulsa Engineering Company 401(k) Plan [05/16/03]

• Labor Department Recovers Employee Contributions to Retirement And Health Plans of West Des Moines, Iowa Company [05/09/03]

• Labor Department Seeks Appointment of Independent Fiduciary For Orphaned Alabama 401(K) Plan [05/09/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Restitution for Participants of Minnesota 401(k) Plan [05/08/03]

• Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao to Meet With 2003 ERISA Advisory Council [05/08/03]

• EBSA Releases Field Assistance Bulletin on Multiemployer 401(k) Plans [05/08/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Restitution for Participants Of Kansas Company for Misuse of Simple IRA Plan Assets [05/07/03]

• Tennessee Corporation and Former Executives Sued Over Improper Purchase of Company Stock for Retirement Plan [05/07/03]

• L.A. Creative, Inc., and Its Owners Make Restitution to 401(k) Plan, Barred From Dealing with Plans [05/07/03]

• Labor Department Restores 401(k) Assets of Minnesota Participants [05/07/03]

• Watertown, New York, Company Ordered To Produce Plan Documents [05/07/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Independent Fiduciary To Oversee HR Leasestaff’s 401(K) Plan [05/01/03]

• Labor Department Sues Defunct Virginia Firm Over Delinquent Employee Contributions [05/01/03]

April

• Labor Department Sues Miller Plumbing SIMPLE IRA Plan Official For Failing to Forward Employee Contributions [04/30/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Court Order Appointing Independent Fiduciary [04/24/03]

• Media Advisory - HIPAA and Other Health Laws: Compliance Assistance Seminar [04/24/03]

• Labor Department Sues Baltimore Company and 401(k) Plan Official For Failure to Forward Employee Contributions [04/23/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Court Order Restoring Contributions to Participants in Canton, Ohio 401(k) Plan [04/17/03]

• EBSA Releases Field Assistance Bulletin on “Participant Loan” Rules [04/15/03]

• Mental Health Parity Act Extended To December 31, 2003 [04/11/03]

• U.S. Labor Secretary Appoints New Members To ERISA Advisory Council, Names Leadership [04/09/03]

• Oklahoma Employee Leasing Firm, Owner To Restore Delinquent Plan Contributions [04/08/03]

• Labor Department Publishes Rules for Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements [04/07/03]

• Media Advisory - HIPAA and Other Health Laws: Compliance Assistance Seminar [04/04/03]

• Labor Department Sues Florida Corporation President for Abandonment of 401(k) Plan [04/01/03]

March

• Labor Department Sues Cook County Company Plan Trustee For Failing to Forward Employee Contributions and Loan Repayments [03/31/03]

• Labor Department Sues Trustees of Bronx, New York Carpenters Benefit Plans Over Misuse of Plan Assets [03/28/03]

• Labor Department Seeks Independent Fiduciary for 401(k) Plan Of Defunct New York City Firm [03/24/03]

• Former Georgia Training Fund Coordinator Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement [03/24/03]

• Labor Department Sues Defunct Money Centre For Failure to Pay Health Claims [03/20/03]

• Labor Department Sues Ohio Glass Company and 401(k) Plan Trustee Over Delinquent Employee Contributions and Loan Payments [03/19/03]

• Labor Department Sues Retirement Plan Trustee For Misusing Plan Assets to Pay Legal Fees [03/18/03]

• Labor Department Settles Pension Plan Lawsuit Against Bankrupt Owner of Michigan Company [03/17/03]

• Alexandria, Minnesota SIMPLE IRA Plan Official Agrees To Repay Plan for Delinquent Contributions [03/17/03]

• Labor Department Announces Electronic Access To Health Filings on MEWAs [03/17/03]

• Executives Of Defunct Maryland Computer Firm Sued To Recover 401(K) Assets [03/14/03]

• Assistant Secretary of Labor Testifies On Oversight and Enforcement of Association Health Plans [03/13/03]

• Labor Department Sues Owner of Two Colorado Firms to Restore More than $17,000 to Pension Plan Participants [03/13/03]

• Marlborough, Connecticut, Companies Agree to Refund Over $900,000 to Health Benefit Plan Clients to Settle U.S. Labor Department Lawsuit [03/12/03]

• U.S. Labor Department Files Complaint In Bankruptcy Action To Recoup Pension Assets For Austin Miller Workers [03/11/03]

• Trustees and Owners Ordered to Restore 401(k) Plan Assets Under Judgment Obtained by Labor Department [03/10/03]

• Labor Department Sues Former Sea Island Corporation’s Pension Plan Administrator for Failing to Forward Employee Contributions [03/10/03]

• Labor Department Sues Illinois Corporation and its President for Abandonment of 401(k) Plan [03/07/03]

• Secretary Elaine L. Chao Joins Senate Lawmakers on Introduction of Association Health Plan Legislation Labor Department Prepared to Administer New Health Reform Protections [03/06/03]

• Former Foxboro, Massachusetts Nursing Home Company and President Agree to Pay Outstanding Employee Medical Claims as the result of U.S. Labor Department Lawsuit [03/04/03]

February

• Labor Department Announces Compliance Assistance Program for ERISA Health Laws [02/26/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Restitution For Georgia Profit Sharing Plan [02/26/03]

• Labor Department Sues Minnesota Executive Over Delinquent Employee Contributions [02/25/03]

• Indiana Trucking Company and Retirement Plan Trustee to Make Restitution for Misusing Employee Benefits [02/25/03]

• Labor Department Announces Advisory Opinion On Overdraft Protection For Plans [02/20/03]

• Assistant Secretary of Labor Testifies on President's Pension Security Reforms [02/13/03]

• Labor Department Recovers Employee Pension Assets From Michigan Company and Owners [02/11/03]

• Labor Department Proposes Class Exemption On Settlement of Litigation [02/10/03]

• Labor Department Obtains Summary Judgment Against Virginia Firm And Owner Over Misuse of 401(k) and Health Plan Assets [02/06/03]

• Independent Fiduciary Appointed to Abandoned 401(K) Plan Of Defunct New York City Publishing Company [02/06/03]

• Labor Department Sues Plan Officials Of Production Workers Local 148 for Engaging in Multiple Prohibited Transactions [02/04/03]

• Labor Department Sues to Obtain Independent Fiduciary For Abandoned Chicago 401(k) Plan [02/04/03]

• Labor Department Requires California Metal Company to Guarantee Price of Stock Contributed To Retirement Plan [02/04/03]

• Labor Secretary Chao Renames Agency Administering Retirement and Health Benefits [02/03/03]

• Labor Department Seeks Appointment of Independent Fiduciary for Orphaned Pennsylvania 401(k) Plan [02/03/03]

• Labor Department Sues Official of Terminated Canton, Ohio Pension Plan to Recover Delinquent Contributions [02/03/03]

January

• Labor Department Sues Former Company Officers for Losses to Employee Pension Plan [01/23/03]

• Labor Department Issues Final Rules on Disclosure Of Pension Plan “Blackout Periods” Completes Major Step in President Bush’s Retirement Security Plan [01/23/03]

• Labor Department Sues Spain Electric to Recover Employee Contributions to Pension and Health Plans [01/22/03]

• Labor Department Sues Marietta Industrial Enterprises to Recover Participant Contributions and Loan Payments to Pension Plan [01/22/03]

• Labor Department Adjusts Civil Monetary Penalties for Inflation [01/22/03]

• Labor Department Proposes Exemption For Northwest Airlines to Contribute Corporate Stock [01/16/03]

• Labor Department Sues Former Executives of Bucyrus, Ohio Company For Failure to Forward Employee Contributions to Pension And Health Plans [01/14/03]

• Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces Information Military Reservists And Their Families Need to Know About Employee Benefits - Rights to Pension and Health Coverage Continue During Military Service [01/10/03]

• Trustee Ordered to Restore Employee Contributions to Illinois Profit Sharing Plan [01/10/03]

• Labor Department Releases 2002 Form 5500s [01/09/03]

• PWBA Requests Input on Safe Harbors For Automatic Rollovers [01/06/03]

• Illinois Firm and President to Restore Assets to 401(k) Plan under Judgment Obtained by Labor Department [01/02/03]