PHILADELPHIA — An individual is suing a labor union and its trustees for allegedly denying his pension benefits.
Richard Cohen filed a complaint on April 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Retail, Wholesale and Department Store International Union and Industry Pension Plan and its trustees, alleging that they violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that he applied for the defendants' pension plan for early retirement benefits, but he allegedly was denied the benefits because the defendants determined that he continued "to work in disqualifying employment."
The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible, claiming that they wrongfully, arbitrarily and capriciously suspended his pension plan and refused to let him pursue an administrative appeal.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks retirement benefits, attorney's fees, court costs and any further relief the court deems appropriate. He is represented by Kenneth D. Berman of Berman Legal LLC in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:18-cv-01430-WB