Dignity Health’s Church Plan Pension Deal Approved on Third Try

A settlement that could put an extra $747 million in Dignity Health’s pension plan received approval from a California federal judge, who previously declined to greenlight the deal after noting problems with attorneys’ fees and conflicts among class members.

The revised settlement includes bigger payouts to about 3,200 former employees who won’t benefit from additional plan contributions and have an incentive to seek “generous immediate payments,” Judge Jon S. Tigar of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California said Tuesday. These increased payments were negotiated after members of this subgroup obtained separate counsel and filed a motion ...