In a ruling that upends conventional thinking on the standards for class certification of claims brought under ERISA section 502(a)(2), the Fourth Circuit overturned class certification of a lawsuit challenging the selection of 401(k) defined contribution plan investment funds. Trauernicht v. Genworth Fin. Inc., 2026 WL 667917 (4th Cir. Mar. 10, 2026). Drawing a
It’s November 11th, Do You Know When Your Private Investment Fund’s VCOC Annual Valuation Period Is?
By Adam Scoll on
Similar to the old school public service announcements that used to tell us the time of day and asked us if we knew where our children were, Proskauer wants to make sure fund managers are complying with their applicable “venture capital operating company” (“VCOC”) obligations.
A manager of a private investment fund that accepts investments…
No Monetary Harm, No Foul? Not Quite, but American Airlines Not Required to Pay Any Monetary Damages in ERISA ESG Breach of Loyalty Case
By Mary Grace Richardson & Adam Scoll on
On September 30, 2025, Judge Reed O’Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a final judgment on damages in Spence v. American Airlines, Inc., No. 4:23-cv-552 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 30, 2025), which related to challenges that American Airlines and its employee benefits committee (“AA”) violated their ERISA fiduciary…
DOL Rescinds 2022 Guidance Cautioning Against 401(k) Plan Investments in Cryptocurrencies
By Adam Scoll & Mary Grace Richardson on
On May 28, 2025, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued Compliance Assistance Release No. 2025-01 which rescinds the DOL’s prior Compliance Assistance Release No. 2022-1 which had warned 401(k) plan fiduciaries against adding cryptocurrencies as direct investment options under their plans.
The 2022 guidance (described in more detail here) cautioned 401(k) plan fiduciaries to…