Remy v. Lubbock Nat’l Bank
In ESOP case, court finds ERISA provides for right to contribution among co-fiduciaries but finds trustee defendant has no right to contribution from nonfiduciary ESOP appraiser if trustee were found liable to ESOP for losses; court dismisses third-party complaint against ESOP appraiser.
Trustee’s Claim for Contribution Against ESOP Appraiser Collapses
In ESOP case, court finds ERISA provides for right to contribution among co-fiduciaries but finds trustee defendant has no right to contribution from nonfiduciary ESOP appraiser if trustee were found liable to ESOP for losses; court dismisses third-party complaint against ESOP appraiser.
Lee v. Argent Trust Co.
Court dismisses private plaintiff’s ESOP suit, alleging defendant trustee and other ESOP and company actors violated their fiduciary duties to the plan and overpaid for company stock; a subsequent valuation showed the plan obtained stock at a discount, court concludes.
Court Finds Plaintiff Fails to Show ESOP Transaction Caused Injury
Court dismisses private plaintiff’s ESOP suit, alleging defendant trustee and other ESOP and company actors violated their fiduciary duties to the plan and overpaid for company stock; a subsequent valuation showed the plan obtained stock at a discount, court concludes.
DOL Prevails on All Claims Against ESOP Trustee and Owner/Seller
Trial court finds ESOP trustee liable for causing plan to overpay for company stock; trustee failed to adequately respond to red flags in ESOP appraisal and did not act solely in the interest of ESOP, court says; owner is liable for accepting price he knew to be above stock’s fair market value.
Pizzella v. Vinoskey (I)
Trial court finds ESOP trustee liable for causing plan to overpay for company stock; trustee failed to adequately respond to red flags in ESOP appraisal and did not act solely in the interest of ESOP, court says; owner is liable for accepting price he knew to be above stock’s fair market value.
Appraisals and ESOP Litigation: Top 10 Causes of Trustee Troubles
ESOPs. DOL. Disappointed participant. Investigation. Litigation. A recent survey of DOL litigation against ESOP fiduciaries proves that ESOP valuations are the focus of ESOP litigation. Some areas of valuation continue to engender controversy, and more valuation issues are looming in the background. Gain confidence with insights from James Joyner in this practical, in-depth session that doesn’t dodge the hard questions. ESOP trustees, appraisers, advisors, and auditors will come away more prepared for their next ESOP ...
DOL sticks to its tough ESOP litigation strategy
Despite criticism from the ESOP community, the Department of Labor is not abandoning its litigation-prone approach toward ESOPs, as a recently filed lawsuit makes clear.
Experts comment on recent Brundle ESOP decision
In its recent Brundle opinion (see last week’s coverage), the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, in describing the major actors in the case, included a quote (not attributed) that the ESOP world was “a very incestuous community.”
It’s not just about FMV, Brundle ESOP appeals court ruling shows
“Fair market value” is not the only consideration when it comes evaluating the performance of the ESOP trustee, the 4th Circuit made clear in its recent ruling, on which we reported here last week and which represents another milestone in ESOP case law.
4th Circuit upholds Brundle ESOP valuation and damages findings
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals just affirmed the district court’s ruling against the trustee in the intensely contested Brundle v. Wilmington Trust ESOP case, including the district court’s valuation and damages findings.
Brundle v. Wilmington Trust N.A. (III)
In key ESOP case, 4th Circuit affirms liability and damages findings against ESOP trustee; court says trustee’s reliance on ESOP appraiser’s contemporaneous valuation was not “reasonably justified”; district court used correct measure of damages and justifiable methodology, 4th Circuit finds.
4th Circuit Says Record Supports Liability and Damages Findings Against ESOP Trustee
In key ESOP case, 4th Circuit affirms liability and damages findings against ESOP trustee; court says trustee’s reliance on ESOP appraiser’s contemporaneous valuation was not “reasonably justified”; district court used correct measure of damages and justifiable methodology, 4th Circuit finds.
Post-trial briefs in Vinoskey ESOP trial point to fierce valuation fight
The DOL’s aggressive oversight strategy concerning ESOPs has led to a number of controversial lawsuits, including, most recently, the Acosta v. Vinoskey case, which, in the past few months, went to trial over the DOL's overpayment claim.
Starkly different valuation narratives in Vinoskey ESOP trial
Post-trial briefs in last year’s Acosta v. Vinoskey ESOP case reveal insights into how each side shaped the valuation narrative.
In Gatekeeper Role, Court Trains Attention on Expert Methodology, Not Conclusions
In ESOP case pivoting on valuation, court denies parties’ Daubert challenges; court notes “gatekeeping” means focusing “on principles and methodology, not the conclusions that [the experts] generate”; parties’ objections are mostly quarrels with opposing expert’s conclusions, court finds.
Acosta v. Wilmington Trust, N.A. (I) (Graphite)
In ESOP case pivoting on valuation, court denies parties’ Daubert challenges; court notes “gatekeeping” means focusing “on principles and methodology, not the conclusions that [the experts] generate”; parties’ objections are mostly quarrels with opposing expert’s conclusions, court finds.
Congressional members accuse DOL of undermining ESOPs
As reported by the ESOP Association, in a letter to the White House dated October 1, 27 members of Congress (including one who identified as a CPA) have voiced serious concerns about the DOL’s “investigatory and enforcement policies toward Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).”
DOL urges court to uphold judgment against trustee in Brundle ESOP litigation
In the ongoing Brundle v. Wilmington Trust ESOP saga, which is now in the appeals stage, the Department of Labor recently filed an amicus brief in support of the district court’s $29.8 million judgment against the ESOP trustee. The case arose out of a plan participant’s claim that the ESOP trustee breached its fiduciary duties to the plan by causing the ESOP to pay more than fair market value for the employer’s stock.
DOL backs judgment against trustee in Brundle ESOP litigation
In the fiercely litigated Brundle v. Wilmington Trust ESOP case, in which the district court concluded the ESOP trustee had caused the plan to overpay by almost $29.8 million, the trustee has appealed and outside interests have started to weigh in.
ASA squarely aligns itself with trustee and appraiser in Brundle ESOP litigation
One of the most controversial ESOP cases, Brundle v. Wilmington Trust, has now entered the appeals court phase. In 2017, the district court found that the trustee had caused the plan to overpay by $29.8 million by failing to scrutinize the financial advisor’s obviously flawed valuation analysis and value conclusions. The trustee and valuator had strong ESOP credentials.
ASA vigorously supports trustee and appraiser in Brundle ESOP litigation
Readers may remember the 2017 Brundle v. Wilmington Trust case in which the district court concluded the ESOP trustee had caused the plan to overpay by almost $28 million.
ESOP settlement involves Vermont company
Vermont Business Magazine recently reported that the DOL settled its ESOP litigation involving First Bankers Trust Services (FBTS) and the principals of a Vermont company, Sonnax Industries, the maker of automatic transmission parts.
ESOP case alive (for now), but court limits damages testimony under Daubert
In a developing ESOP case, the government recently suffered a setback when the court agreed with the trustee that portions of the damages testimony the government’s expert proposed failed to hold up under the Daubert reliability prong.
DOL sues over ESOP; trustee launches Daubert attack
In a developing ESOP case, the court recently excluded a chunk of the government expert’s damages testimony and dismissed one of the counts for lack of damages evidence.