Retiree Benefit Cutbacks Roil Courts

A bad economy, aging workers and long-ago company promises of lifetime health benefits for retirees have combined to produce a spate of conflicting federal appellate standards as companies try to cut back the benefits. The 6th Circuit has embraced broad acceptance of the premise that retiree benefit rights vest if there’s additional evidence outside the contract. The 7th Circuit generally assumes that benefit promises expire with the labor contract. And the 3rd and 4th circuits take an even harder line. Read on…