in Newswire Published on October 26, 2016

SSM Health, Others Hit with ERISA

by Corrado Rizzi

Last Updated on May 8, 2018

View Comments

Feather v. SSM Health et al

Filed: October 26, 2016 ◆§ 4:16-cv-01669-HEA

• Read Complaint

The Pension Committee for The Retirement Plan for SSM Health Employees is facing a class action lawsuit.

Defendant(s)

SSM Health

Law(s)

ERISA

State(s)

Categories

Medical/Health

The Pension Committee for The Retirement Plan for SSM Health Employees is facing a class action lawsuit that claims the multi-state healthcare conglomerate failed to properly maintain employees’ pension plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The 58-page complaint was filed on behalf of the participants of three pension plans sponsored by the defendant:

The Retirement Plan for Employees of SSM Health Care System
The Retirement Plan for Employees of Certain Illinois Entities Related to SSM Health Care
The Retirement Plan for Employees of St. Mary’s Hospital Centralia, Illinois

The lawsuit claims SSM Health disregards multiple ERISA provisions by underfunding the plans and claiming they’re exempt from ERISA protections because they are “church plans.” Plaintiffs argue that their plans do not meet this classification because they were not established by a church or an association of churches. In fact, plaintiffs say, SSM Health, a non-profit, has nothing to do with a church in any way.

Summarily, the suit claims SSM Health attempts to unlawfully operate its employee pension plans as “church plans” because such plans fall outside of ERISA protection in that they:

Do not have to provide employees with information about benefits or investments
Do not have to pay benefits fairly
Do not need to be adequately funded
Are not covered by the federal pension insurance program

The proposed class covers all participants and beneficiaries of the SSM Health employee plans.

Case Spotlight

Video Game Addiction Lawsuits

If your child suffers from video game addiction — including Fortnite addiction or Roblox addiction — you may be able to take legal action. Gamers 18 to 22 may also qualify.

Learn more:Video Game Addiction Lawsuit

Depo-Provera Lawsuits

Anyone who received Depo-Provera or Depo-Provera SubQ injections and has been diagnosed with meningioma, a type of brain tumor, may be able to take legal action.

How Do I Join a Class Action Lawsuit?

Did you know there's usually nothing you need to do to join, sign up for, or add your name to new class action lawsuits when they're initially filed?

Read more here: How Do I Join a Class Action Lawsuit?