MONTPELIER, Vt. – The U.S. Department of Labor is suing the fiduciaries of a Vermont employee stock ownership plan for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act alleging that First Bankers Trust Services, Inc.’s 2011 purchase of the company on behalf of the ESOP from its two previous owners caused the plan to suffer sizable financial losses.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration announced today updated guidance for plan fiduciaries with respect to proxy voting. Specifically, the agency released Interpretive Bulletin 2016-01, which withdraws IB 2008-2 and reinstates earlier guidance related to such proxy voting, but with certain updates to clarify what the law requires of plan fiduciaries.
Name(s) of Defendant(s): Larry Porter, Susan Porter, SeaBoard Management LLC, SeaBoard Management Inc., and SeaBoard Management Inc. Money Purchase Plan
WASHINGTON – Increasing access to retirement savings opportunities is the surest way to help more of America’s workers secure their financial futures. Today, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration is announcing a final rule to assist large cities and other political subdivisions that establish payroll deduction individual retirement account savings programs for workers who do not have access to workplace savings arrangements.
WASHINGTON – It can be challenging for workers seeking disability benefits from an employer-sponsored plan to understand the process and why their claim is approved or denied. To improve the fairness, transparency and accuracy of the disability claims process, the U.S. Department of Labor has announced a final rule requiring that plans, plan fiduciaries, and insurance providers comply with additional procedural protections when dealing with disability benefit claimants.
Name(s) of Defendant: Authorized Factory Service Inc.
Allegations: Based on an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the U.S. Secretary of Labor filed a complaint alleging:
Defendant(s): Matthew Kenneth Smith
Wind Turbine Solutions LLC
Wind Turbine Solutions LLC Retirement Trust
Allegations: Based on an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the U.S. Secretary of Labor filed a complaint alleging:
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a judgment against San Francisco-based California Pacific Bank and four individual fiduciaries, requiring them to pay $866,840 in retirement benefits, plus interest, to employees who participated in the company’s stock ownership benefits plan.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against the fiduciaries of a Virginia-based employee stock ownership plan, alleging the defendants failed to protect the assets of the plan as it purchased nearly $21 million in company shares from the president of Sentry Equipment Erectors Inc. who was also a trustee of the ESOP.
Name(s) of Defendant: Michael E. Weinhagen, Weinhagen Tire Co. Inc., Weinhagen Tire Co. Inc. 401(k) Plan
Allegations: Michael E. Weinhagen is the sole owner and president of St. Paul, Minnesota-based Weinhagen Tire Co. and the fiduciary to the Weinhagen Tire Co. Inc. 401(k) Plan.