The graphic assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk while speaking at Utah Valley University in September 2025 led to an immediate uproar on social media. Posts from Kirk opponents purportedly celebrating (or at least not mourning) his death led to public backlash from right-wing leaders. The controversy has left employers struggling to deal with public pressure against workers
Latest from Hall Benefits Law Blog - Page 2
House Bill Could Affect Health and Labor Regulations
The U.S. House of Representatives is considering the Unfunded Mandates Accountability and Transparency Act of 2025 (“the Act”). This bill would require impact analyses for new rules from the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and other federal agencies with an anticipated economic impact of $100 million or more.
According to the Congressional
Pennsylvania Health Network Settles 401(k) Forfeiture Suit for $1.15 Million
Lehigh Valley Health Network Inc., a Pennsylvania health system, has agreed to settle a 401(k) forfeiture suit for $1.15 million. The company operates 32 hospitals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey after a 2024 merger with Jefferson Health and employs about 65,000 workers. The case is Kiskeravage et al. v. Lehigh Valley Health Network Inc. et al., case number 5:24-cv-05567, U.S.
DOL Issues Guidance Approving Lifetime Income Insurance Products in 401(k) Plans
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued an advisory opinion clarifying that employers can offer lifetime income insurance products as default investments in 401(k) plans. The guidance follows an executive order from President Donald Trump directing increased access to so-called “nontraditional” retirement plan assets.
DOL Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer characterized the
CVS PBM Caremark Appeals $290M Overbilling Judgment
CVS Caremark, the pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) for CVS, has filed a notice of appeal of a $290 million judgment in a lawsuit alleging that it overbilled for Medicare Part D-sponsored drugs. The judgment was increased from $95 million to $290 million in August 2025 in an order from a Pennsylvania federal district court that included treble damages for Caremark’s
Former Partner Files ERISA Class Action Against Husch Blackwell for Delayed 401(k) Contributions
A former equity partner at Husch Blackwell LLP has filed a proposed class action alleging that the law firm unlawfully withheld and misused employee 401(k) contributions. The suit, which is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, accuses the firm of violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by holding funds deferred from employees’
LifePoint Health’s Motion to Dismiss 401(k) Class Action Denied
A federal district court judge in Tennessee has denied LifePoint Health’s motion to dismiss a proposed class action accusing the company of mismanaging its 401(k) plan. As a result of the ruling, current and former LifePoint employees can proceed with their claims that the company and its fiduciaries violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by charging excessive fees
Federal Judge Rejects Monetary Damages Claim by American Airlines Workers in ESG Investment Class Action
A Texas federal district court judge entered final judgment in favor of American Airlines in a class action lawsuit filed by workers over alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The workers claimed that the company’s investment emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in its retirement plan breached the duty of loyalty under ERISA.
The
Mass Amazon Layoffs Attributed to “Culture,” Not Financial Woes or Increased AI Usage
Amazon recently announced 14,000 layoffs, but company executives are not blaming the downsizing on financial performance or the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI). Instead, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy attributed the layoffs to a “mismatch in company culture.”
The CEO’s statement has concerned HR professionals. If HR has erred in hiring as many as 14,000 people, as some claim, then
Elon Musk’s Trillion-Dollar Demands Likely to Impact Worker Earnings Morale Negatively
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