Employee benefits and executive compensation packages are as different as the companies that provide them. Plan administrators turn to Baker Donelson for our ability to understand every angle of the current laws governing employee benefits and executive compensation, and in turn, we seek to create plans that are best suited for their individual needs. Our labor and employment attorneys partner with our tax attorneys to provide comprehensive and up to date advice for employers, and create pension and benefit plans that best meet our clients' business objectives in compliance with tax regulations.
When litigation occurs, we defend clients against administrative claims and all related types of controversy. We routinely represent plan administrators and claim administrators in the defense of ERISA disability claims, and represent employers and insurers in claims for benefits and class actions premised on alleged breaches of fiduciary duties under ERISA. Our clients include manufacturing and distribution businesses, financial institutions, technology companies, health care companies, hospitals and medical service providers, educational institutions, and non-profit and government employers, as well as a number of public companies in various industries.
Representative Matters
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Successfully represented more than 30,000 former employees in an ERISA lawsuit to determine which of two groups of former employees of a health care company were entitled to more than $250 million in disputed assets from an employee stock ownership plan.
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Obtained a favorable opinion from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals on an ERISA/COBRA action, affirming the district court's grant of judgment on the record. The case involved a complex set of facts involving a national food distributor's plant employee who failed to pay any premiums for his health insurance benefits during a leave of absence, and who was ultimately terminated for failure to return after the leave. Plaintiff filed suit after nearly three years, alleging he'd not been issued a COBRA notice and seeking statutory penalties of up to $110 per day for every day the company was not in compliance.
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Secured a grant of summary judgment on behalf of Sun Life Assurance of Canada in federal district court in Tennessee overturning decision which would have made Sun Life pay $400,000 in life insurance benefits.
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Represented a major insurance company in defending ERISA claims for long-term disability benefits.
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Defended cardiologist group against ERISA claims brought by two former physician members of the practice.
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Represented a medical plan participant in a suit for medical benefits in federal district court.
Representative Clients
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Life Insurance Company of North America
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Connecticut General Life Insurance Company
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UnumProvident
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Unum Life Insurance Company of America
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The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company
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Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company
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Union Security Insurance Company
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