Northcutt v. General Motors Hourly-Rate Employees Pension Plan

RIPPLE, Circuit Judge.

James Northcutt and Lewis Smith brought this action seeking pension plan benefits withheld from them by their employer, General Motors Corporation (“GM”). GM had suspended the payment of these benefits and was treating the amount otherwise due to the plaintiffs each month as reimbursement for past disability and pension plan overpayments. Mr. Northcutt and Mr. Smith claim that § 502 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1132, prohibits GM from invoking contractual remedies for reimbursement and instead requires GM to seek equitable relief…