An Alabama district court, in Howard v. Ivy Creek of Tallapoosa, LLC, has held that an employer could not avoid liability for failing to provide a COBRA election notice to a plan participant at the correct address merely because it had contracted with a third-party...
COBRA
Court Finds Employer’s Evidence of COBRA Notice Mailing Procedures Insufficient
An Illinois federal district court, in Earl v. Jewel Food Stores, Inc., has concluded that an employer failed to show it made a good faith effort to provide a COBRA election notice to a terminated employee. Law. Under COBRA, when a qualifying event occurs, such as...
McDonald’s Settles Lawsuit Over Deficient COBRA Notices
McDonald’s Settles Lawsuit Over Deficient COBRA Notices - SHRM, August, 17. 2022 (PDF)
Employers Cautioned as Suits Over COBRA Coverage Notices Add Up
Employers Cautioned as Suits Over COBRA Coverage Notices Add Up – Roberta Watson, Bloomberg News, April 29, 2022 (PDF)
President Continues COVID Extensions
Reasoning that “the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant risk to the public health and safety of the Nation,” President Biden has extended the COVID-19 National Emergency, which was declared on March 13, 2020, and was scheduled to end March 1, 2022. This...
Employer Must Provide Retroactive Coverage and Pay Penalties for COBRA Election Notice Violations
The U.S. District Court of Michigan, in Buford v. General Motors, L.L.C., has concluded that an employer’s conduct violated COBRA election notice requirements and warranted the imposition of statutory penalties for the failure to timely provide a COBRA election...
Increased Contribution Requirement Upon Retirement is a COBRA Qualifying Event
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has confirmed, in Randolph v. East Baton Rouge Parish School System, that a change in required contributions upon retirement is a COBRA qualifying event. Facts. An employee who contributed $200 per month to participate in her...