Michels Corporation v. Central States, Southeast, and Southwest Areas Pension Fund

Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Pension
Citation
Case Number: 
Nos. 14-3726 & 14-3737 Cons.
Decision Date: 
September 2, 2015
Federal District: 
N.D. Ill., E. Div.
Holding: 
Reversed
In action by plaintiff-employer seeking declaration that its obligation to its employee’s pension fund ended on termination date of applicable extension of collective bargaining agreement (i.e., 11/15/11), Dist. Ct. erred in granting defendant-pension fund’s summary judgment motion, after finding that plaintiff’s termination notice on 11/16/11 was ineffective to end plaintiff’s duty to contribute to said fund. Plaintiff’s obligation to contribute to pension fund was tied to collective bargaining agreement, and plaintiff and union had agreed to end plaintiff’s obligation to make pension payments as of 11/15/11. Fact that other aspects of collective bargaining agreement were extended by plaintiff and union beyond 11/15/11 did not require different result. As such, defendant’s receipt on 11/16/11 of signed agreement from plaintiff and union that eliminated plaintiff’s obligation to make payments into pension fund was sufficient to effectuate termination of plaintiff’s obligation to make such payments.