Reliant Care Must Defend Exec’s Benefits Suit in Missouri Court

A lawsuit accusing Reliant Care Management LLC of wrongly firing an executive and failing to pay him severance and other benefits owed to him under his employment contract must go to Missouri court.

Reliant failed to show that the executive’s employment contract providing for severance benefits is an employee welfare benefit plan as defined by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, Judge Ronnie L. White of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri held Dec. 4.

Because there is no ERISA plan involved, the executive’s claim of breach of contract isn’t barred by the federal statute and ...