Over 75% of Tesla shareholders recently approved Elon Musk’s latest pay package, potentially worth $1 trillion. If Tesla achieves certain milestones under his tutelage over the next decade, Musk, who already tops the record books as the world’s first person to be worth $500 billion, could become the world’s first trillionaire. Despite the hoopla, however, experts warn that the monster
Cigna Settles ERISA Suit Over Out-of-Network Providers for $5.7 Million
Cigna Health and Life Insurance Co. has offered to settle a proposed class action lawsuit for $5.7 million. The case is Hecht et al. v. The Cigna Group, case number 1:24-cv-05926, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
The plaintiffs accused Cigna of violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by advertising out-of-network healthcare providers to
U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Tariffs Likely to Impact Economy
Various tariff cases before the U.S. Supreme Court may lead to greater volatility in labor and employment matters, depending on how the Court rules. Rulings upholding the tariffs may adversely affect compensation, labor demand, and employee morale.
On the other hand, some employers might benefit from the increased costs that tariffs can impose on foreign competitors, leading to higher sales
Federal Judge Dismisses 401(k) Lawsuit Against AutoZone
A federal court judge in Tennessee granted judgment in favor of AutoZone and its investment committee in an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) case involving investment choices in its company 401(k) plan. After a bench trial, the judge ruled that plan participants failed to show that AutoZone improperly managed 401(k) plan investment options. The case is Iannone et al.
California Court Finds Atlanta Falcons Exempt from Workers’ Compensation Law in Wayne Gandy Case
A California appellate court has found that the Atlanta Falcons are exempt from the state’s workers’ compensation law. As a result, the Falcons are not responsible for former NFL player Wayne Gandy’s workers’ compensation claim.
Several years after his 2009 retirement Gandy, a 15-year NFL veteran, filed a workers’ compensation claim against the Falcons, the Los Angeles Rams, the St.
Judge Allows Anthem $12.9 Million ERISA Settlement to Move Forward
A federal magistrate has given preliminary approval to a settlement of nearly $12.9 million in a case filed against health insurance giant Anthem under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). In the suit, plan participants and beneficiaries alleged that Anthem inappropriately denied coverage for individuals receiving residential behavioral health treatment for mental health conditions or substance use disorders. The
Senate Confirms EEOC Commissioner Nominee to Reestablish Quorum
The U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Brittany Panuccio as a commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is highly significant because it restores the quorum needed for many EEOC actions. The EEOC requires a simple majority vote to approve actions, but for most of the year, EEOC actions have been hobbled by only two sitting commissioners. With the addition
Federal Agency FAQs Clarify How Insurance Plans May Offer Fertility Treatment as Excepted Benefits
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued FAQs About Affordable Care Act Implementation Part 72. President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14216, “Expanding Access to In Vitro Fertilization,” is likely the reason these FAQs were issued.
The purpose of these FAQs is to clarify how employer-sponsored health
EEOC Filed A Record 10-Year Low Number of Suits in FY 2025
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has hit a 10-year low in the number of suits filed during FY2025. The EEOC filed 93 suits in FY2025, one of the lowest numbers in the past 30 years. In contrast, the EEOC filed 71 suits in just one month of FY2023.
Following the typical pattern, the EEOC’s FY2025 suits were primarily
Cigna to Join TrumpRx Fertility Drug Expansion Program
President Trump recently announced that it would offer Gonal-F, a drug used by women undergoing in vitro fertilization, for a highly discounted price through TrumpRx.gov, a pharmacy website open to the public. TrumpRx.gov is expected to begin operations in January 2026. Its purpose is to offer discounted medications directly to U.S. consumers. The Trump administration launched the project after reaching