Three Hilton Retirees Not Vested in Plan Because of Insufficient Evidence of Hours

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Aug. 15 adopted a magistrate judge’s determination that the benefits of three participants in a Hilton Hotels Corp. defined benefit pension plan were not vested because there was insufficient evidence that the participants worked enough hours under the plan (Kifafi v. Hilton Hotels Ret. Plan, D.D.C., 1:98-cv-01517-CKK, 8/15/12).

The court determined that the participants did not meet the plan’s vesting requirement, which mandated “at least one Hour of Service on or after January 1, 1989.” The disputed participants were all terminated by Hilton prior to Jan. 1, ...