Miscellaneous Archives:

Employers Alarmed by Supreme Court Decision that May Trigger Frivolous Litigation Tsunami

Washington, D.C., April 18, 2025 – Today, Tom Christina, Executive Director of the ERIC Legal Center released the statement below in response to a decision issued Thursday by the U.S. Supreme Court. In Cunningham v. Cornell, the Court made it more cumbersome for courts to dismiss allegations that a benefit plan engaged in a “prohibited transaction” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

ERISA Victory: ERIC Applauds Court Ruling Upholding Employers’ Rights to Design Employee Benefit Plans

Washington, D.C., April 2, 2025 – On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee granted a motion for summary judgment in McKee Foods Corporation v. BFP, Inc. The court agreed with McKee Foods that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act preempts key provisions of Tennessee’s law requiring that employers include “any willing pharmacy” in the networks maintained by the pharmacy benefit plans employers sponsor for workers and their families.

ERIC Cautions Texas Health Care Legislation Raises ERISA Preemption Concerns

Washington, D.C., March 10, 2025 – The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) last week wrote to Chair Kolkhorst and Members of the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services expressing concerns that state policies, such as those proposed by SB 1122, would interfere with the design and administration of self-funded health benefit plans governed by the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). Given the rising cost of prescription drugs and the growing interest in regulating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), ERIC urged the Committee to address the ERISA preemption issues raised by SB 1122 to avoid legal challenges seen in other states. An ERIC statement can be found below and is attributable to Dillon Clair, Director of State Advocacy for ERIC.

ERIC and Employer Coalition Urges Court to Safeguard Integrity of ERISA

Washington, D.C., February 27, 2025 – The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) and coalition allies yesterday filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to uphold a previous decision issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee in Robert Watt, et al v. FedEx Corporation, et al (Watt).

ERIC Seeks to Halt Mental Health Parity Rule

Washington, D.C., February 20, 2025 – The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) has asked for a stay of enforcement of the September 2024 Final Rule under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (the Final Rule) while ERIC’s lawsuit challenging the validity of the Final Rule is pending.

ERIC Shares Employer Priorities with Congressional Lawmakers

Washington, D.C., February 11, 2025 –Today, The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) sent a letter to Congressional leaders outlining the organization’s position on key policy issues affecting large employer member companies that voluntarily provide health, retirement, and other benefits to workers and families across the country.

ERIC and Employer Coalition Urge Court to Uphold Decision Preserving Integrity of ERISA

Washington, D.C., February 4, 2025 – The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) and a coalition of employee benefit industry groups urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to uphold a previous decision issued by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in William Drummond v. Southern Company Services (Drummond).