McCoy v. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF LABORERS'INTERN.

McCoy v. Board of Trustees of Laborers' International Union Pension Plan

This case involved a worker named McCoy who applied for disability retirement benefits from his union pension plan. McCoy claimed he became disabled in July 1995, but the pension plan trustees didn't start paying his benefits until January 1999 – nearly four years later. McCoy argued that the plan violated their contract by delaying his benefits and failed to properly accommodate his disability. He also complained that the pension plan didn't provide workers with updated information about their benefits.

The court sided with McCoy on key issues. The judge ordered the pension plan trustees to pay McCoy's disability retirement benefits going back to July 1995, when he first became disabled, rather than starting from January 1999. The court also required the pension plan to give all beneficiaries updated Summary Plan Description documents that clearly explain their benefits.

This ruling matters for workers because it shows that pension plans must honor their promises and pay benefits when workers become eligible, not when it's convenient for the plan. It also reinforces that workers have the right to receive clear, up-to-date information about their pension benefits so they can make informed decisions about their retirement planning.