Increased Access to Courts for Employee Benefit and Retirement Disputes.
This law invalidates contract clauses in employee benefit plans (like retirement funds) that force workers and retirees into private arbitration. Citizens gain the right to pursue claims, including class actions, in court, making it easier to challenge denials of benefits. This change ensures courts will independently review plan administrators' decisions, rather than relying on their own interpretation of the rules.
Key points
Bans mandatory pre-dispute arbitration clauses concerning employee benefit and retirement plans.
Allows employees and retirees to join class action lawsuits against plan administrators by invalidating prior waivers of this right.
In benefit disputes, courts must conduct an independent (de novo) review of plan administrators' decisions, increasing citizens' chances for a fair resolution.
Expired
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