Page 1 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. Page 1 Is All Quiet On The Fiduciary Front? New Issues in Fiduciary Liability
Page 2 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. Sharon Goldzweig, Associate Counsel, Consolidated Edison - Chief employee benefits counsel responsible for all union and non- union employee benefit matters Rhonda Prussack, EVP – Fiduciary Liability, AIG Oversight of production, marketing, pricing and underwriting of fiduciary liability insurance
Page 3 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. What to Expect Be up-to-date on the latest developments from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plaintiffs’ bar Formulate strategies to reduce exposures Assess the adequacy of your fiduciary liability insurance coverage.
Page 4 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. Which Of These Issues Are You Worried About? Pension Plan De-risking? 401(k) Fees? Affordable Care Act? Stock Drop Litigation? Church Plan Litigation? None of the Above
Page 5 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. Pension Plan De-Risking If annuity vendor was engaged, was the “safest available” provider selected? Did the plan pay too much to the annuity provider? Were appropriate interest rate assumptions used in the calculation of future liabilities? Were future liabilities of the plan undervalued? What happens to federal protection (by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation)?
Page 6 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. Pension Plan De-Risking Cont’d. Other ERISA protections Notice Disclosure PBGC review Protection from creditors Concerns about lump-sum distributions to retirees already in pay status Which party is responsible to correct past mistakes?
Page 7 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. 401(k) Fees Tussey v. ABB March 19, 2014 – 8 th Circuit Court of Appeals mixed decision o If plan grants fiduciaries discretion to construe the plan, then fiduciaries’ interpretations are entitled to deference o “Float” is not a plan asset o Record-keeping fees deemed excessive
Page 8 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. 401(k) Fees Cont’d. Kruger v. Novant Health, Inc. (M.D. North Carolina, Mar. 12, 2014) Beesley v. International Paper Company (S.D. Illinois) Jan. 31, $30 million settlement Nolte v. Cigna Corp. (C.D. Illinois) Dec. 18, $35 million settlement
Page 9 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. Affordable Care Act Myriad plan changes already in effect Prohibition against pre-existing condition exclusions No lifetime or annual limits on “essential health benefits” Mental health parity Department of Labor audits of ACA compliance well underway Required notice of availability of healthcare exchanges Was additional advice provided about the exchanges? Termination of coverage or change in employee status from full-time to part-time – ERISA 510?
Page 10 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. Stock Drop Litigation Fifth Third Bancorp v. Dudenhoeffer Supreme Court considered this question: Did the Sixth Circuit err by finding that in a stock drop matter, the investment in employer stock within an ESOP may be entitled to a presumption of prudence, but only after plaintiffs have the opportunity for discovery, not at the outset of a case?
Page 11 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. Church Plan Litigation Kaplan v. Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, (D.N.J. Mar. 31, 2014) Stapleton v. Advocate Health Care Network, (N.D. IL. Mar. 17, 2014) Rollins v. Dignity Health, (N.D. Cal. Dec. 12, 2013) Overall v. Ascension Health, (E.D. Mi. Mar. 28, 2013) Chavies v. Catholic Health East (E.D. Pa., Mar. 28, 2013)
Page 12 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. Questions, Final Comments and Contact Information
Page 13 Recording of this session via any media type is strictly prohibited. Please complete the session survey on the RIMS14 mobile application.