Modest 401(k) Class Deals Show Desire to Dodge Costly Litigation

More than 100 employers signed class settlements over their retirement plans during the past four years, with most deals under $2 million—a signal companies are seeking quick and cheap exits from costly litigation.

Labor Department Repudiates Pro-Worker ERISA Brief in Yale Case

The US Labor Department sought to withdraw its support for Yale University employees in a retirement plan dispute, telling the Second Circuit it’s “reconsidered its position” on shifting legal burdens in ERISA cases.

Alerus Scores New Tool in ERISA Suit After SCOTUS Cornell Case

A federal judge demanded additional court filings from OC Communications workers suing over their employee stock ownership plan—a defendant-friendly move suggested by the US Supreme Court in its most recent ERISA decision.

Federal Workers Allege Bias Over Coverage for Transgender Care

Four federal employees represented by the Human Rights Campaign filed a class action discrimination claim against the Trump administration over its near-total ban on gender-affirming care in federal health plans.

ERISA Bar Awaits Court Say on Forfeitures, Pensions, Smoker Fees

Benefits attorneys are ringing in 2026 with their eyes on the federal appeals courts, which are grappling with novel issues involving 401(k) forfeitures, health plan tobacco penalties, and pension de-risking transactions.

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German Dentists’ Fund Sues Advisers Over €1.1 Billion Loss

A German pension fund whose foray into private markets led to losses that totaled half of the fund’s assets has begun legal proceedings against its former auditor, an adviser and its own managers to recover the damages.

Submissions Open for Bloomberg Law’s Leading Law Firms

Bloomberg Law’s Leading Law Firms is a ranking of law firms based on information including revenue, headcount, growth, and innovation. The program recognizes excellence and growth across a variety of success metrics including, but not limited to, revenue and headcount. Get details on the survey and request a link for your firm to participate.

Hispanic Professors’ Pay Claims Leave Fifth Circuit Unconvinced

University of Texas at Austin’s president can’t be held individually liable anytime an employee of color is denied a pay raise, a Fifth Circuit judge warned during oral arguments Tuesday, as he considered a lower court’s ruling that could have that impact on the university.

Big Law's Big Paychecks: Partner Compensation, Explained

Law firm partners in Big Law earn a lot of money, but just how much they make can vary widely. Whether it's equity or non-equity or merit versus lockstep, this video explains what goes into determining the size of those paychecks at elite law firms.

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Case: Health Care & Benefits/Timeliness (E.D. Pa.)

The court granted UPMC Health Plan Inc. and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center summary judgment on out-of-network provider Abira Medical Laboratories LLC’s breach of contract and unjust enrichment claims, and granted Abira summary judgment on UPMC’s counterclaims. Abira Med. Labs. LLC v. UPMC Health Plan Inc., 2025 BL 393062, E.D. Pa., 24-cv-0227, 11/3/25

Case: Retirement Plans/Procedure (D. Mass.)

The court denied Arrow Mutual Liability Insurance Company and The Arrow Mutual 401(k) Plan’s motion to dismiss this ERISA action alleging wrongful withholding of Arrow’s late President and CEO’s employer contribution sub-account. Gray v. Arrow Mut. Liab. Ins. Co., 2025 BL 390109, D. Mass., 25-10054-NMG, 10/29/25

Case: Health Care & Benefits/Long-Term Disability Benefits (W.D. Ky.)

The court granted in part and denied in part LINA’s motion for administrative remand and stay of proceedings in an employee’s ERISA action challenging the denial of her long-term disability benefits. Chalk v. Life Ins. Co. of N. Am., 2025 BL 384848, W.D. Ky., 3:25-cv-133-RGJ, 10/27/25