Legal Opinion
In Re Lucent Death Benefits ERISA Litigation
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Decided August 28, 2008No. 06-5008, 06-5009PublishedCited by 13 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
OPINION OF THE COURT
AMBRO, Circuit Judge.
Former employees of AT & T Corp. (“AT & T”) and Lucent Technologies Inc. (“Lucent”) appeal the dismissal of their putative class action relating to the termination of a pensioner death benefit provided for in the governing benefit plan. We conclude that this benefit was an unvested welfare benefit and that neither the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001-1461, nor unilateral contract principles prohibited its termination. We thus affirm.
I. Factual and Procedural Background
Plaintiffs allege the following. We assume the…
2Cases cited11 opinions
- Phillips v. County of AlleghenyCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 2008
- Central Laborers' Pension Fund v. HeinzSupreme Court of the United States · 2004
- In Re Unisys Corp. Retiree Medical Benefit "Erisa" Litigation. Gerald E. Pickering, Fred Tonnies, William Leonhardt, Evelyn Schmidt, Dudley Keyes, David Kahl, Paul Wright, Robert Wilt, Clay Bernichon, Edward Valle, Robert B. Welsh, Solveig Tschann, Bernard J. Jansen, Donald I. Klippenstein, Frederick W. Hoppe, Ludson F. Worsham, Edwin Marjala and Warren Hall, Individually and on Behalf of All Members of the Sperry Class Previously Certified by the Court Whose Claims Have Not Been SettledCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 1995
- 20 Employee Benefits Cas. 1537, Pens. Plan Guide P 23922o in Re New Valley Corporation, Debtor, Senior Executive Benefit Plan Participants Richard L. Callaghan Alexander J. Chisholm W. Lee Elkins Robert M. Flanagan Robert F. Garbarini Arthur A. Garman Walter Girardin Delmar Harmon J. William Harrington John P. Hunt John A. Hollansworth Gerald P. Kent D.D. Lloyd Russell W. Mc Fall John W.R. Pope, Jr. Herbet Salter, Estate of Steve Smiszko Phillip Schneider Bernard Weitzer v. New Valley Corporation, Senior Executive Benefit Plan Participants and Walter E. Girardin, Alexander J. Chisholm, S.E. Smiszko, John A. Hunt, Arthur Garman, Gerald P. Kent, Delmar Harmon, Robert R. Garbarini, Walter L. Elkins, Walter E. Girardin, Philip Schneider, J. William Harrington, John A. Hollansworth, Bernard Weitzer, John W.R. Pope, Jr., Robert M. Flanagan, Douglas D. Lloyd, H.E. Salter/barbara Orr Salter, Richard L. Callaghan, and Russell W. McFallCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 1996
- Hooven v. Exxon Mobil Corp.Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 2006
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3Cited by13 opinions
- IUE-CWA v. Visteon Corp. (In Re Visteon Corp.)Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 2010
- Secretary of Labor v. DoyleCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 2012
- Battoni v. IBEW Local Union No. 102 Employee Pension PlanCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 2010
- Kerber v. Qwest Pension PlanCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit · 2009
- In re Avaya Inc.United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York · 2017
8 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.