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Retiree Health Care Benefits
Across the country, employers are reducing and eliminating promised retiree health benefits that their former employees earned through years of service. We currently represent thousands of retirees in a series of ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) class action cases challenging the reduction or elimination of retiree health care benefits. These cases have received national press coverage, including front-page stories in the Wall Street Journal and an entire episode on the PBS television show, Now.
This practice area has been a particular focus of our attorneys for many years. Attorney Bill Payne has been appointed class counsel to represent retirees in over 50 of these types of class actions over the past twenty-five years. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently stated in a published ruling that in view of Bill's background, retirees would be "hard pressed to find someone with greater `experience in handling class actions ... and claims of the type asserted in the action' or an attorney with more "knowledge of the applicable law.'"
A sample of the successful retiree health cases brought by our attorneys includes:
Our attorneys have litigated retiree health cases against numerous other corporations, such as ACF, Alcoa, American Standard, ASARCO, Caterpillar, Continental Tire, General Tire, Goodyear, Johnstown America, Owens-Illinois, Morton Salt, PPG Industries, and Sunoco.
If you believe that your retiree health benefits have been wrongly cut or eliminated, please contact us so that we may evaluate your claim.
If you are an attorney with a client in this position, please consider partnering with Stember Feinstein Doyle Payne & Kravec. We represent referred matters as we represent our own clients, and respect the fact that referred clients have a history of a positive working relationship with the referring attorney. We would be eager to team with you in prosecuting the case. If you prefer, we also can take the lead or act simply as local counsel. We are flexible on fee arrangements, subject, of course, to applicable rules. Under any scenario, Stember Feinstein Doyle Payne & Kravec will provide your client with superb representation.
This practice area has been a particular focus of our attorneys for many years. Attorney Bill Payne has been appointed class counsel to represent retirees in over 50 of these types of class actions over the past twenty-five years. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently stated in a published ruling that in view of Bill's background, retirees would be "hard pressed to find someone with greater `experience in handling class actions ... and claims of the type asserted in the action' or an attorney with more "knowledge of the applicable law.'"
A sample of the successful retiree health cases brought by our attorneys includes:
Crown Cork & Seal - We brought this case in the Southern District of Ohio, challenging a beverage can manufacturer's decision to impose a $2,000 annual deductible on former factory workers. An arbitrator ruled that the company was not permitted to make these unilateral cuts to health care benefits of retirees who retired prior to 1993, resulting in an eventual settlement worth over an estimated $180 million.
General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler - Our lawyers represent approximately 850,000 retired auto workers and spouses and dependents in litigation against General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler in the Eastern District of Michigan. These cases involve landmark settlements in which the three automakers have agreed to pay an estimated $60 billion into special fund operated by independent fiduciaries that will fund future retiree medical benefits. We previously represented over 650,000 General Motors and Ford class members in earlier actions involving their retiree medical benefits.
Pechiney Plastic Packaging - In a case against Pechiney Plastic Packaging that we filed in California, we negotiated an excellent settlement shortly after filing suit. The company agreed to provide lifetime benefits to class members.
General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler - Our lawyers represent approximately 850,000 retired auto workers and spouses and dependents in litigation against General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler in the Eastern District of Michigan. These cases involve landmark settlements in which the three automakers have agreed to pay an estimated $60 billion into special fund operated by independent fiduciaries that will fund future retiree medical benefits. We previously represented over 650,000 General Motors and Ford class members in earlier actions involving their retiree medical benefits.
Pechiney Plastic Packaging - In a case against Pechiney Plastic Packaging that we filed in California, we negotiated an excellent settlement shortly after filing suit. The company agreed to provide lifetime benefits to class members.
Our attorneys have litigated retiree health cases against numerous other corporations, such as ACF, Alcoa, American Standard, ASARCO, Caterpillar, Continental Tire, General Tire, Goodyear, Johnstown America, Owens-Illinois, Morton Salt, PPG Industries, and Sunoco.
If you believe that your retiree health benefits have been wrongly cut or eliminated, please contact us so that we may evaluate your claim.
If you are an attorney with a client in this position, please consider partnering with Stember Feinstein Doyle Payne & Kravec. We represent referred matters as we represent our own clients, and respect the fact that referred clients have a history of a positive working relationship with the referring attorney. We would be eager to team with you in prosecuting the case. If you prefer, we also can take the lead or act simply as local counsel. We are flexible on fee arrangements, subject, of course, to applicable rules. Under any scenario, Stember Feinstein Doyle Payne & Kravec will provide your client with superb representation.
