ERISA Litigation: Where to now?

Join Us at Andrei's

Thursday, April 18, 2024

8:00 am to 9:45 am

The courts remain busy with both old and new aspects of ERISA litigation. 401(k) fee litigation continues apace with new cases being filed, new plaintiff’s firms joining the fray, older cases settling and, finally, more defense friendly court rulings. The enforceability of arbitration clauses in plans continues to evolve with mixed results. But new varieties of claims are surfacing. Cases attacking the use of forfeitures to pay employer contributions are in the initial stages of their litigation. Most recently, plaintiffs are filing cases contesting plan sponsors’ choice of insurance carriers for large pension risk transfer transactions. Other new developments include claims involving pharmacy benefit managers and claims against health insurers alleging improper claims processing and access to claim data.

Brad Huss and Brian Murray of Trucker Huss will bring us up to date on these ERISA litigation trends and other litigation issues of interest.

Brad Huss is a Director in the San Francisco office of Trucker Huss, APC, which practices exclusively in the fields of ERISA and employee benefits.  Mr. Huss concentrates his practice on ERISA litigation, fiduciary responsibility matters, Department of Labor investigations and qualified pension and profit sharing plans. Brad has spoken numerous times on these topics throughout the country and has testified before the United States Senate Finance Committee concerning retirement security issues.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Bar Association Retirement Fund, a Charter Fellow and a former member of the Board of Governors of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel.  Brad is a past member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries, a former chair of the Employee Benefits Committee of the Section of Tort Trial and Insurance Practice of the American Bar Association and a past President of the San Francisco Chapter of the Western Pension & Benefits Council.

Brian Murray is a Counsel at Trucker Huss and works in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Brian concentrates his practice in the area of employee benefits, with a focus on ERISA litigation. He represents plan sponsors, trustees, and other fiduciaries in a wide range of employee benefits cases, including 401(k) and pension class action litigation, claims for retirement, medical, disability and other benefits, ESOP and multiemployer pension plan disputes, and cases involving executive compensation. In addition to his litigation practice, Brian counsels’ clients on a variety of matters, including fiduciary responsibility, operational corrections, and regulatory compliance. Brian also represents plan fiduciaries in Department of Labor investigations. Brian has been recognized as a Southern California “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine since 2018. Brian has written articles and presented on a number of ERISA topics, including indemnity and contribution in ERISA litigation, recovery of attorney’s fees under ERISA, and arbitration of ERISA claims. Prior to joining Trucker Huss, Brian represented a diverse set of clients in complex commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout the country. While in law school, Brian served as an Extern for the Honorable Dale S. Fischer in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Continuing Education

• 2 CE for AIF 
• 2 CECs for ERPA 
• 2 CPEs for ASPPA certifications
• 2 CECs for NIPA certifications
• 2 hours for California CPAs 
• 1.5 hours of California MCLE
• 2 hours for Certified Financial Planners 
• 2 CE for CRPS 
• 2 CE for CEBS

Pricing

• Regular: $55 for members, $75 for non-members
  
• Gold Members: Prepaid Must Register Online
• Corporate & Sponsor Members: Prepaid Must Register Online

Doors open at 7:30 am for check-in, breakfast and networking.  Our program will begin at 8:00 am and this program will end at approximately 9:45 am.  The registration fee includes a full breakfast buffet and hosted valet parking.

• WP&BC Members can bring a guest for free!  This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce your peers and colleagues to our Chapter.  Remember, your guest should be a first-time visitor and potential member.   Look for the free guest offer when you register online
• The statements and materials presented at WP&BC Orange County Chapter events are solely the opinions of the speakers and do not represent the opinions or positions of WP&BC Orange County Chapter. In addition, WP&BC Orange County Chapter assumes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the statements and materials presented by speakers at WP&BC Orange County Chapter events.