Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.

Holding that summary judgment is not appropriate if "the dispute about a material fact is ‘genuine,’ that is, if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party"

Celotex Corp. v. Catrett

Holding that a movant's summary judgment motion should be granted "against a [nonmovant] who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial"

Varity Corp. v. Howe

Holding that ERISA fiduciaries may have duties to disclose information about plan prospects that they have no duty, or even power, to change

Hardt v. Reliance Standard Life Ins. Co.

Holding a party need not "prevail[]" to obtain a fee award under § 1132(g); instead, a court has discretion to grant such an award as long as the party "has achieved some degree of success on the merits"

Cigna Corp. v. Amara

Holding that SPDs provide "communication with beneficiaries about the plan, but . . . do not themselves constitute the terms of the plan for purposes of § 502(B)"

Mertens v. Hewitt Assocs

Holding that relief under section 502 is limited to remedies traditionally available in equity, such as injunctions, mandamus, and restitution

Harris Tr. & Sav. Bank v. Salomon Smith Barney Inc.

Holding that the authorization under 29 U.S.C. § 1132 "extends to a suit against a nonfiduciary 'party in interest' to a transaction barred by [29 U.S.C. § 1106]"

Hecker v. Deere Co.

Holding the use of revenue-sharing for plan expenses did not amount to an ERISA violation

Johnson v. Couturier

Holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion by considering "unverified client complaints" and counsel's declaration

Hummell v. S.E. Rykoff Co.

Holding that a court should consider the following factors when exercising its discretion to award fees and costs in an ERISA action: " the degree of the opposing parties' culpability or bad faith; the ability of the opposing parties to satisfy an award of fees; whether an award of fees against the opposing parties would deter others from acting under similar circumstances; whether the parties requesting fees sought to benefit all participants and beneficiaries of an ERISA plan or to resolve a significant legal question regarding ERISA; and the relative merits of the parties' positions"

Rule 56 - Summary Judgment

Holding a party may move for summary judgment on any part of any claim or defense in the lawsuit

Rule 8 - General Rules of Pleading

Holding that "[e]very defense to a claim for relief in any pleading must be asserted in the responsive pleading. . . ."

Section 1002 - Definitions

Holding that ERISA is a federal law that sets standards of protection for individuals in most voluntarily established, private-sector retirement plans

Section 1104 - Fiduciary duties

Specifying duties of a "fiduciary . . . with respect to a plan"

Section 1102 - Establishment of plan

Granting administrator, as “named fiduciary,” the “authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the plan”

Section 1106 - Prohibited transactions

Prohibiting a plan administrator or a plan fiduciary from transferring to or for the benefit of a party in interest any assets of the plan

Section 1105 - Liability for breach of co-fiduciary

Providing that a plan administrator may delegate fiduciary responsibilities if permitted by the ERISA plan

Section 1101 - Coverage

Applying subsections (b) and (b) "[f]or purposes of this part," that is, Part 4, which comprises §§ 1101-1114

Section 2509.75-8 - Questions and answers relating to fiduciary responsibility under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974

Recognizing limitations on directors' primary fiduciary liability " apart from co-fiduciary liability arising under circumstances described in section 405"

Section 2510.3-102 - Definition of "plan assets"-participant contributions

Defining "assets of the plan" to include amounts "that a participant or beneficiary pays to an employer ... [or] that a participant has withheld from his wages by an employer "

Section 2550.408b-2 - General statutory exemption for services or office space

Defining "direct compensation"

Section 2510.3-101 - Definition of "plan assets"-plan investments

Providing that the underlying assets of an “operating company” in which a plan invests are not considered plan assets for determining whether a prohibited transaction occurred

Section 2580.412-5 - Determining when "funds or other property" belong to a plan