ERISA Complex LitigationBlog Posts
U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Roe and Casey: What This Decision Means for EmployersAs many expected based on the draft opinion that was leaked months ago, the U.S. Supreme Court has held the U.S. Constitution does not protect the right to obtain an abortion. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, No. 19-1392 (June 24, 2022). Dobbs overturns nearly 50 years of precedent from the Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania...June 24, 2022 |
Carried Interest/Promote in 2022: Action Items for Investment, Private Equity, Real Estate Fund ManagersInvestment, private equity, and real estate fund managers should consider becoming familiar with the complex final regulations on the preferential tax treatment of “carried interest” under Section 1061 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) that are generally effective for taxable years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2022. More…June 17, 2022 |
RISE and SHINE – The Senate’s Initial Response to House-Passed SECURE 2.0On March 29, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0, HR 2954). SECURE 2.0 is a comprehensive bill designed to increase access to retirement savings and includes a variety of provisions that would affect employer-provided retirement plans. On June 14, 2022, the Senate Health, Education, Labor,...June 16, 2022 |
Group Health Plan Considerations in the Face of (Potentially) Changing Abortion LawsOn May 2, 2022, a draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health was leaked to the press, and as a result the Court is expected to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, effectively leaving the issue of abortion rights to the states. Thirteen states currently have laws in place...June 14, 2022 |
Crypto, SDBAs, and Your 401(k) Plan: What Now?Just over a month ago, we wrote about the Department of Labor’s guidance on cryptocurrency as a 401(k) investment option, and the landscape has already shifted multiple times. Fidelity Investments made news on April 26 when it announced its new cryptocurrency-based investment option for 401(k) plans and other investment vehicles. If elected by a plan...May 17, 2022 |
Dealing With Undocumented Workers In ERISA Plans...May 13, 2022 |
Transparency in Coverage EnforcementOn April 19, 2022, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury issued additional guidance under the Transparency in Coverage Final Rules issued in 2020. The guidance, FAQs About Affordable Care Act Implementation Part 53, provides a safe harbor for disclosing in-network healthcare costs that cannot be expressed as a dollar amount. ...May 2, 2022 |
District Court Upholds New York City Hotel Severance LawIn a decision of great import to the New York City hospitality industry, a federal court has held that a New York City statute mandating payment of severance benefits to certain covered hotel service employees was not preempted by ERISA. RHC Operating, LLC v. City of New York, 1:21-cv-09322-JPO (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 30, 2022). Background Like...April 26, 2022 |
Ohio’s Surprise Billing Law – Impact on Health PlansOhio’s Surprise Billing Law, R.C. § 3902.51, became effective January 12, 2022, but its impact on health plans is still evolving. The law strives to prevent patients from receiving and paying surprise medical bills, specifically those stemming from unanticipated out-of-network care. While the Ohio Surprise Billing Law intends to shield insureds from surprise medical costs,...April 19, 2022 |
Don’t White-Knuckle Withdrawal LiabilityIt’s no secret that the statutory deck under ERISA is stacked heavily in favor of multiemployer pension plans (MEPPs) and against employers contributing to (or withdrawing from) Taft-Hartley trust funds. For example, an employer who receives a demand to pay its alleged allocable share of a multiemployer pension plan’s unfunded vested benefits (Withdrawal Liability) will...April 11, 2022 |