EP 145: Recent Court Case on Interfering with Plan Participant’s ERISA 510 Rights

In this episode, Suzanne Spradley and Chase Cannon discuss a recent circuit-level decision relating to employee termination and its interaction with a participant lawsuit based on ERISA Section 510 (which prohibits an employer’s interference with a plan participant’s right to benefits). Suzanne provides background on ERISA 510 and how it applies to employer’s group health plans. Suzanne and Chase analyze a case where an employer terminated an employee shortly after their return to work following a leave of absence for a medical procedure. The two close by discussing how the court weighed certain factors when determining the employer violated the participant’s Section 510 rights.