Northrop Grumman Pension Suit Spurs Ruling on Novel ERISA Issue

Northrop Grumman Corp. retirees who say they were misled about their pensions must refocus their complaint if they want to advance ERISA claims against the company’s pension committee, a California federal judge ruled, deciding a novel question under the statute.

The retirees may have a claim under an Employee Retirement Income Security Act provision requiring pension plan administrators to provide participants with regular statements about their benefits, Judge Otis D. Wright II of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California said Tuesday. He allowed the retirees to file an amended complaint accusing the pension committee of failing ...