A Jury's Reaction to Claims of ERISA Fiduciary Misconduct: Lessons Learned and Takeaways for Managing Risk

This summer, a federal district court in Connecticut held the first-ever jury trial over claims that fiduciaries mismanaged Yale University’s retirement savings plan. While most courts have struck jury trial demands in ERISA excessive fee cases, recently, some district courts within the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit have granted them. After four weeks of trial and testimony from many witnesses—including the university’s President and its former Provost, who both served on the plan’s fiduciary committee—the jury found that the plaintiffs were not entitled to any damages.

Please join members of the defense team, who will explain the evidence that led to the verdict in favor of Yale and provide best practices for minimizing the risk of liability in operating a retirement savings plan.