Benefits

  • February 19, 2026

    Alcoa Fights Retirees' Win In Life Insurance Fight At 7th Circ.

    Alcoa USA Corp. is looking to erase its retirees' win in a class action that claimed the aluminum manufacturer illegally cut off their life insurance benefits, telling the Seventh Circuit that the retirees owe their victory to an Indiana federal judge misreading their union contract.

  • February 19, 2026

    Investment Firm Denied CNA Defense From Competitor

    A CNA Financial Corp. unit has no duty to defend an investment firm from suits alleging it stole a competitor's employees and solicited its investors, a Connecticut federal judge said Thursday, ruling any claims that would have triggered that duty predated the policy period.

  • February 19, 2026

    NYC Pension Funds Sue AT&T Over Proxy Proposal Exclusion

    Several New York City pension funds have sued AT&T over what they say is the illegal exclusion of their shareholder proposal requesting a corporate diversity report from the telecom giant's corporate ballot, following an indication that regulators would allow the exclusion.

  • February 19, 2026

    Northrop Grumman 401(k) Suit Dropped For 4th Circ. Appeal

    A Virginia federal judge dismissed a suit Thursday against Northrop Grumman from workers who alleged misspending of 401(k) forfeitures, a step that followed the parties settling a final claim in anticipation of workers' Fourth Circuit appeal of the court's December order tossing most claims in the dispute.

  • February 19, 2026

    Benefits Group Of The Year: Goodwin

    Goodwin Procter LLP scored a full defense verdict for Natixis while also winning a class action appeal at the Eleventh Circuit on behalf of John Hancock Life Insurance Co., earning the firm a spot among the 2025 Law360 Benefits Groups of the Year.

  • February 19, 2026

    Northwell Health Should Beat Pension Plan Suit, Judge Says

    Northwell Health inched closer to escaping a proposed class action alleging the hospital system hid cuts to workers' pension plans when converting to a cash-balance plan in the late 1990s, after a New York federal magistrate judge held disclosures about plan changes complied with federal benefits law.

  • February 19, 2026

    Trader Joe's Wants To Check Out Of 401(k) Class Claims

    Trader Joe's asked a Massachusetts federal judge to free it from a class action claiming mismanagement of an employee retirement plan, saying participants haven't shown they were harmed by fees or one mutual fund option that had posted lackluster returns.

  • February 19, 2026

    Mylan Investors Ink $60M Deal In Quality Control Suit

    Investors in the former Mylan NV have reached a $60 million settlement with the company over claims the drugmaker manipulated quality control measures at a West Virginia facility and lied to shareholders, the investors told a federal court this week.

  • February 18, 2026

    Pa. Justices Put Limits On Workers' Comp Immunity

    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Wednesday reined in a state law offering broad immunity from liability for co-workers in workers' compensation cases, saying co‑employee immunity does not automatically apply just because two people work for the same employer.

  • February 18, 2026

    Blue Shield Of Calif. Says 'Ghost Network' Action Falls Flat

    Trouble finding a mental health care therapist is unfortunate but not something that an entire class action can be based on, argued Blue Shield of California, urging a federal judge to dismiss a suit accusing the company of maintaining a "ghost network" directory of providers who don't exist or don't accept new patients.

  • February 18, 2026

    2nd Circ. Says No Pension Bill For Bus Co. After Union Switch

    The Second Circuit on Wednesday backed a ruling that cut a school bus company's pension withdrawal liability to zero, siding with the company's interpretation that federal benefits law entitled it to a discount on what was owed when its employees switched from one union to another.

  • February 18, 2026

    Benefits Group Of The Year: Cohen Milstein

    Cohen Milstein's benefits team struck a $14.75 million deal with Citgo to end an outdated mortality data suit and secured a $7.9 million settlement in a 401(k) mismanagement case, earning the firm a place among the 2025 Law360 Benefit Groups of the Year.

  • February 18, 2026

    Retirees' Attys Get $99M Cut Of Colgate-Palmolive ERISA Deal

    A New York federal judge has signed off on a $99 million request from attorneys representing Colgate-Palmolive retirees who sought fees, expenses and other costs from an overall $332 million megadeal, ending claims the company skimped on pensioners' lump-sum retirement payouts.

  • February 18, 2026

    Liberty Mutual Inks $13.4M 401(k) Fee, Investment Suit Deal

    Liberty Mutual has agreed to shell out $13.4 million and change its employee 401(k) plan management process to end a class action alleging that the insurance company allowed excessive fees and underperforming investment options to drain workers' retirement savings, according to filings in Massachusetts federal court.

  • February 17, 2026

    4th Circ. Won't Revive Advance Auto Parts Fraud Suit

    The Fourth Circuit on Tuesday declined to revive a suit by investors claiming Advance Auto Parts and its top brass misled them about the failure of a new pricing strategy and about accounting errors, ruling they failed to allege the auto parts retailer had wrongful intent.

  • February 17, 2026

    Honeywell Settles $1.2M Suit Filed By Union Pension Fund

    A Washington federal court closed an Employee Retirement Income Security Act case that pit Honeywell International Inc. against a union pension fund Tuesday, shortly after the conglomerate and fund told the court that they've settled the $1.2 million lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.

  • February 17, 2026

    SEC's Atkins Floats Litigation 'Safe Harbor' For Public Cos.

    U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins on Tuesday put forth a raft of ideas for encouraging shorter corporate disclosures, including a possible "safe harbor" for publicly traded companies looking to avoid shareholder lawsuits for failing to report the impact of highly publicized events on their businesses.

  • February 17, 2026

    Ga. Justices Clarify Third-Party Life Insurance Procurement

    The Georgia Supreme Court ruled that a third party can legally be said to have procured a life insurance policy on the life of another, even if the insured played a role, as long as the third party is the one who effectively obtained or acquired the policy.

  • February 17, 2026

    Cohen Milstein To Rep Perrigo Investors In Formula Biz Suit

    Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC will represent a proposed class of Perrigo Company PLC investors who allege the company failed to disclose critical issues with infant formula operations that it purchased from Nestlé and caused stock prices to drop as the issues came to light. 

  • February 17, 2026

    Providence Health Inks $43M Deal In 401(k) Forfeiture Suit

    Providence Health & Services has struck a nearly $43 million deal to end a suit claiming the company used forfeited cash from its retirement plan to fund its employer contributions instead of plan expenses covered by workers, an agreement that stands to benefit 200,000 class members.

  • February 17, 2026

    Benefits Group Of The Year: Sanford Heisler

    Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight LLP worked to secure UnitedHealth Group employee 401(k) plan participants a record-breaking, $69 million class action settlement to end allegations that underperforming investment offerings breached fiduciary duties, handily earning the plaintiffs-side firm a place among the 2025 Law360 Benefits Groups of the Year.

  • February 17, 2026

    Colo. Judge Allows Hospital To Pause Gender-Affirming Care

    A Colorado state judge declined to reinstate gender-affirming care for transgender youth patients of Children's Hospital Colorado, ruling that ordering the hospital to resume providing the care could risk the hospital's ability to provide pediatric care to other patients.

  • February 17, 2026

    BBQ Co. ESOP Members Urge Trial Despite DOL's $15M Deal

    A certified class of participants in a barbecue company's employee stock ownership program is seeking assurance that a $15 million settlement among the U.S. Department of Labor, the company's executives and the ESOP's caretaker won't affect a coming trial on the matter. 

  • February 13, 2026

    Iowa AG Urges 8th Circ. To Unblock Parts Of State PBM Law

    The state of Iowa urged the Eighth Circuit on Friday to lift a preliminary block on parts of a law limiting pharmacy benefit managers' power to set drug prices in the Hawkeye State, arguing a lower court judge erred in holding that parts of the policy were federally preempted.

  • February 13, 2026

    CSX Wants Quick 11th Circ. Appeal In Workers' FMLA Fight

    CSX Transportation Inc. is asking a Florida federal court to allow for an immediate appeal to the Eleventh Circuit of the denial of its bid to dismiss a former employee's medical leave claims, arguing that the ruling runs counter to what other appellate courts have said on this statute of limitations issue.

Expert Analysis

  • Opinion

    The Case For Emulating, Not Dividing, The Ninth Circuit

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    Champions for improved judicial administration should reject the unfounded criticisms driving recent Senate proposals to divide the Ninth Circuit and instead seek to replicate the court's unique strengths and successes, says Ninth Circuit Judge J. Clifford Wallace.

  • ERISA Litigation Trends To Watch With 2025 In The Rearview

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    There were significant developments in Employee Retirement Income Security Act litigation in 2025, including plaintiffs pushing the bounds of sponsor and fiduciary liability and defendants scoring district court wins, and although the types of claims might change, ERISA litigation will likely be just as active in 2026, say attorneys at Groom Law.

  • Series

    Muay Thai Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Muay Thai kickboxing has taught me that in order to win, one must stick to one's game plan and adapt under pressure, just as when facing challenges by opposing counsel or judges, says Mark Schork at Feldman Shepherd.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Intentional Career-Building

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    A successful legal career is built through intention: understanding expectations, assessing strengths honestly and proactively seeking opportunities to grow and cultivating relationships that support your development, say Erika Drous and Hillary Mann at Morrison Foerster.

  • 4 Developments That Defined The 2025 Ethics Landscape

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    The legal profession spent 2025 at the edge of its ethical comfort zone as courts, firms and regulators confronted how fast-moving technologies and new business models collide with long-standing professional duties, signaling that the profession is entering a period of sustained disruption that will continue into 2026, says Hilary Gerzhoy at HWG Law.

  • Navigating AI In The Legal Industry

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    As artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly integral part of legal practice, Law360 guest commentary this year examined evolving ethical obligations, how the plaintiffs bar is using AI to level the playing field against corporate defense teams, and the attendant risks of adoption.

  • The Major Securities Litigation Rulings And Trends Of 2025

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    The past 12 months saw increased regulator focus on disclosures concerning artificial intelligence, signs of growing judicial scrutiny at the class certification stage, and shifting regulatory priorities at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — all major developments that may significantly affect securities litigation strategy in 2026 and beyond, say attorneys at Debevoise.

  • How Fractional GCs Can Manage Risks Of Engagement

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    As more organizations eliminate their in-house legal departments in favor of outsourcing legal work, fractional general counsel roles offer practitioners an engaging and flexible way to practice at a high level, but they can also present legal, ethical and operational risks that must be proactively managed, say attorneys at Boies Schiller.

  • Series

    Nature Photography Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Nature photography reminds me to focus on what is in front of me and to slow down to achieve success, and, in embracing the value of viewing situations through different lenses, offers skills transferable to the practice of law, says Brian Willett at Saul Ewing.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Practical Problem Solving

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    Issue-spotting skills are well honed in law school, but practicing attorneys must also identify clients’ problems and true goals, and then be able to provide solutions, says Mary Kate Hogan at Quarles & Brady.

  • Opinion

    A Uniform Federal Rule Would Curb Gen AI Missteps In Court

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    To address the patchwork of courts’ standing orders on generative artificial intelligence, curbing abuses and relieving the burden on judges, the federal judiciary should consider amending its civil procedure rules to require litigants to certify they’ve reviewed legal filings for accuracy, say attorneys at Shook Hardy.

  • Series

    The Law Firm Merger Diaries: Integrating Practice Groups

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    Enacting unified leadership and consistent client service standards ensures law firm practice groups connect and collaborate around shared goals, turning a law firm merger into a platform for growth rather than a period of disruption, says Brian Catlett at Fennemore Craig.

  • Opinion

    Supreme Court Term Limits Would Carry Hidden Risk

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    While proposals for limiting the terms of U.S. Supreme Court justices are popular, a steady stream of relatively young, highly marketable ex-justices with unique knowledge and influence entering the marketplace of law and politics could create new problems, say Michael Broyde at Emory University and Hayden Hall at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

  • Series

    Knitting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Stretching my skills as a knitter makes me a better antitrust attorney by challenging me to recalibrate after wrong turns, not rush outcomes, and trust that I can teach myself the skills to tackle new and difficult projects — even when I don’t have a pattern to work from, says Kara Kuritz at V&E.

  • Series

    The Biz Court Digest: Welcome To Miami

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    After nearly 20 years in operation, the Miami Complex Business Litigation Division is a pioneer upon which other jurisdictions in the state have been modeled, adopting many innovations to keep its cases running more efficiently and staffing experienced judges who are accustomed to hearing business disputes, say attorneys at King & Spalding.

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