Plumber's Local 458 Holiday Vacation Fund v. Howard Immel, Inc.

Howard Immel, Inc., appeals a judgment in favor of Plumber's Local 458 Holiday Vacation Fund, Pension Fund, Health Fund, Industry Fund, and Union Office Assessment Fund for $21,430.56 plus costs. Immel argues that the funds may not recover under the construction lien law, ch. 779, Stats., for unpaid employee benefit contributions against property owners and prime contractors with whom the funds have no agreement. Alternatively, Immel argues that if the funds can use the construction lien law against it, that law is preempted by the Employment Retirement Security Income Act of 1974 (ERISA). 29…