Small v. Oregon Health and Science University

**Worker Wins $18,729 for Unpaid Benefits** This case involved Gregory Geiman, who sued his former employer Moosehead Harvesting, Inc. for failing to pay required employee benefit contributions. Under federal law (ERISA), employers must make certain contributions to employee benefit plans, such as pension or health insurance funds. Geiman claimed his employer failed to make these required payments on his behalf. The court ruled in Geiman's favor and awarded him $18,728.90. This amount included the unpaid benefit contributions his employer owed, plus additional money for interest that built up over time, penalty damages, and his legal fees. The employer apparently didn't respond to defend themselves in court, which led to what's called a "default judgment." **What this means for workers:** If your employer is supposed to contribute to your benefits but doesn't, you have legal rights to collect that money. Employers can't simply skip making required benefit payments - they can be forced to pay what they owe, plus extra penalties and your legal costs. This ruling reinforces that benefit contributions are a serious legal obligation, not optional for employers.