Ford Retiree’s Ex-Wife Must Repay $240,000 in Pension Benefits

The ex-wife of a Ford Motor Co. retiree must repay the company $243,190 in retirement benefits she received in error, the Sixth Circuit ruled Monday, reasoning that the court order requiring repayment is a valid remedy authorized by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

The dispute stems from Donna Zirbel’s 2009 divorce from a Ford retiree and her 2013 claim for benefits under the Ford pension plan. Zirbel was entitled to receive retroactive benefits to her divorce, but the plan incorrectly paid her retroactive benefits to her ex-husband’s 1998 retirement. This caused a $243,190 overpayment that the company later sought ...