Lee Gardner v. Heartland Industrial Partners

OPINION

KETHLEDGE, Circuit Judge.

The question presented in this case is whether Plaintiffs’ state-law tort claim— for tortious interference with a contract that happens to be a pension plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 — is “completely preempted” under § 1132(a)(1)(B) of that Act. The district court held that it was. We disagree and reverse.

We take the facts as set forth in Plaintiffs’ complaint. Defendant Heartland Industrial Partners, L.P., is a Delaware investment firm that formerly held an ownership interest in Metaldyne Corporation, an automotive supplier…