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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

EASTERN DIVISION

CHICAGO & VICINITY LABORERS’ )

DISTRICT COUNCIL PENSION FUND, )

CHICAGO & VICINITY LABORERS’ )

DISTRICT COUNCIL WELFARE FUND, )

CHICAGO & VICINITY LABORERS’ )

DISTRICT COUNCIL RETIREE HEALTH )

AND WELFARE FUND, and CATHERINE )

WENSKUS, not individually but as ) Case No. 20 C 3474

Administrator of the Funds, )

)

Plaintiffs, )

v. )

)

MILLENNIUM CONTRACTING CO., an )

Illinois Corporation, )

)

Defendant. ) 

COMPLAINT

Plaintiffs, Chicago & Vicinity Laborers’ District Council Pension Fund, Chicago & 

Vicinity Laborers’ District Council Health & Welfare Fund, Chicago & Vicinity Laborers’ 

District Council Retiree Health & Welfare Fund, and Catherine Wenskus, not individually but as 

Administrator of the Funds, (collectively the “Funds”), by their attorneys Patrick T. Wallace, 

Amy Carollo, G. Ryan Liska, Katherine C.V. Mosenson and Sara S. Schumann, and for their 

Complaint against Millennium Contracting Co., state:

COUNT I

(Failure To Pay Benefit Contributions Revealed as Delinquent Pursuant to an Audit)

1. Jurisdiction is based on Sections 502(e)(1) and (2) and 515 of the Employee 

Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), as amended, 29 U.S.C. §§1132 (e)(1) and 

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(2) and 1145, Section 301(a) of the Labor Management Relations Act (“LMRA”) of 1947 as 

amended, 29 U.S.C. §185(a), 28 U.S.C. §1331, and federal common law.

2. Venue is proper pursuant to Section 502(e)(2) of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. §1132(e)(2), 

and 28 U.S.C. §1391 (a) and (b).

3. The Funds are multiemployer benefit plans within the meanings of Sections 3(3) 

and 3(37) of ERISA. 29 U.S.C. §1002(3) and 37(A). They are established and maintained 

pursuant to their respective Agreements and Declarations of Trust in accordance with Section 

302(c)(5) of the LMRA. 29 U.S.C. § 186(c)(5). The Funds have offices and conduct business 

within this District.

4. Plaintiff Catherine Wenskus (“Wenskus”) is the Administrator of the Funds, and 

has been duly authorized by the Funds’ Trustees to act on behalf of the Funds in the collection of 

employer contributions owed to the Funds and to the Construction and General District Council 

of Chicago and Vicinity Training Fund, and with respect to the collection by the Funds of 

amounts which have been or are required to be withheld from the wages of employees in 

payment of Union dues for transmittal to the Construction and General Laborers’ District 

Council of Chicago and Vicinity (the “Union”). With respect to such matters, Wenskus is a 

fiduciary of the Funds within the meaning of Section 3(21)(A) of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. 

§1002(21)(A).

5. Defendant Millennium Contracting Inc., hereinafter “Company”, does business 

within this District and was at all times relevant herein an employer within the meaning of 

Section 3(5) of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. §1002(5), and Section 301(a) of the LMRA, 29 U.S.C. 

§185(c).

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6. The Union is a labor organization within the meaning of 29 U.S.C. §185(a). The 

Union and the Company have been parties to successive collective bargaining agreements, the 

most recent of which became effective June 1, 2017 (“Agreement”). (A copy of the Company’s 

Assignment of Collective Bargaining Rights executed by the Company which adopts and 

incorporates a Master Agreement between the Union and various employer associations, and also 

binds the Company to the Funds’ respective Agreements and Declarations of Trust, is attached 

hereto as Exhibit A.)

7. Rene Cortez, hereinafter “Cortez”, is and was at all times relevant a shareholder 

of the Company. The Company entered into a Laborers’ Health and Welfare Fund Participation 

Agreement for Non-Bargained Employees and a Laborers’ Pension Fund Participation

Agreement for Non-Bargained Employees (collectively referred to hereinafter as “Participation

Agreements”) on behalf of Cortez. True and accurate copies of the Individual Self-Contributor 

Agreements are attached hereto as Exhibits B and C.

8. The Funds have been duly authorized by the Construction and General Laborers’ 

District Council of Chicago and Vicinity Training Fund (the “Training Fund”), the Midwest 

Construction Industry Advancement Fund (“MCIAF”), the Chicagoland Construction Safety 

Council (the “Safety Fund”), the Laborers’ Employers’ Cooperation and Education Trust 

(“LECET”), the Midwest Construction Industry Advancement Fund (the “MCIAF”), the 

CDCNI/CAWCC Contractors’ Industry Advancement Fund (the “Wall & Ceiling Fund”), the 

CISCO Uniform Drug/Alcohol Abuse Program (“CISCO”), the Laborers’ District Council Labor 

Management Committee Cooperative (“LMCC”), the CARCO Industry Advancement Fund 

(“CARCO”), the Underground Contractors Association (“UCA”), and the Chicago Area 

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Independent Construction Association (“CAICA”) to act as an agent in the collection of 

contributions due to those funds.

9. The Agreement, the Participation Agreements, and the Funds’ respective 

Agreements and Declarations of Trust obligate the Company to make contributions on behalf of 

its employees covered by the Agreement and Rene Cortez, and to submit monthly remittance 

reports in which the Company, inter alia, identifies the employees covered under the 

Agreements and the amount of contributions to be remitted to the Funds on behalf of each 

covered employee and Rene Cortez. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, and the Funds’ 

respective Agreements and Declarations of Trust, contributions which are not submitted in a 

timely fashion are assessed 20 percent liquidated damages plus interest.

10. The Agreement, the Participation Agreements, and the Funds’ respective 

Agreements and Declarations of Trust require the Company to submit its books and records to 

the Funds on demand for an audit to determine benefit contribution compliance.

11. The Agreement requires the Company to obtain and maintain a surety bond to 

guaranty the payment of future wages, pension and welfare benefits. 

12. An audit of Company’s books and records for the time period of July 1, 2017 

through August 31, 2019, revealed that Company performed covered work during the audit 

period, but that notwithstanding the obligations imposed by the Agreement, the Participation

Agreements, and the Funds’ respective Agreements and Declarations of Trust, Company has:

(a) failed to report and pay contributions in the amount of $6,632.95 owed to Plaintiff 

Pension Fund for the audit period of July 1, 2017 through August 31, 2019, 

thereby depriving the Laborers’ Pension Fund of contributions, income and 

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information needed to administer the Fund and jeopardizing the pension benefits 

of the participants and beneficiaries; 

(b) failed to report and pay contributions in the amount of $5,389.66 owed to Plaintiff 

Laborers’ Welfare Fund for the period of July 1, 2017 through August 31, 2019, 

thereby depriving the Welfare Fund of contributions, income and information 

needed to administer the Fund and jeopardizing the health and welfare benefits of 

the participants and beneficiaries;

(c) failed to report and pay contributions in the amount of $2,471.03 owed to Plaintiff 

Retiree Health and Welfare Fund for the period of July 1, 2017 through August 

31, 2019, thereby depriving the Retiree Welfare Fund of contributions, income 

and information needed to administer the Fund and jeopardizing the health and 

welfare benefits of the participants and beneficiaries;

(d) failed to report and pay contributions in the amount of $338.25 owed to 

Laborers’ Training Fund for the period of July 1, 2017 through August 31, 2019, 

thereby depriving the Laborers’ Training Fund of contributions, income and 

information needed to administer the Fund and jeopardizing the training fund 

benefits of the participants and beneficiaries;

(e) failed to report and pay contributions in the amount of $63.67 owed to Laborers’

District Council Labor Management Committee Cooperative (“LCMCC”) for the 

audit period of July 1, 2017 through August 31, 2019, thereby depriving the 

LCMCC of contributions, income and information needed to administer the Fund 

and jeopardizing the benefits of the participants and beneficiaries;

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(f) failed to report and pay contributions in the amount of $29.96 owed to Chicago 

Area Independent Construction Association (“CAICA”) for the audit period of 

July 1, 2017 through August 31, 2019, thereby depriving the LDCLMCC of 

contributions, income and information needed to administer the Fund and 

jeopardizing the benefits of the participants and beneficiaries; and

(g) failed to report and pay contributions in the amount of $26.22 owed to Laborers’ 

Employers’ Cooperation and Education Trust (“LECET”) for the audit of July 1, 

2017 through August 31, 2019, thereby depriving the LECET of contributions, 

income and information needed to administer the Fund and jeopardizing the 

benefits of the participants and beneficiaries.

A true and accurate copy of the audit and audit summary sheet are attached hereto as Exhibits D

and E respectively.

13. Under the terms of the Agreement and the Funds’ respective Agreements and 

Declarations of Trust, Company owes liquidated damages plus interest on all unpaid 

contributions revealed by the audit for the period of July 1, 2017 through August 31, 2019. 

14. The Company also failed to timely pay its reports for the months of November 

2019 and March 2020 and owes $9,087.65 in accumulated liquidated damages for those late paid 

reports. See Exhibit E.

15. Under the terms of the Agreement, Participation Agreements and the Funds’ 

respective Agreements and Declarations of Trust, Company is liable for the costs of any audit 

which reveals unpaid contributions. Accordingly, Company owed the Funds $2,213.75 in audit 

costs for the audit for the period of July 1, 2017 through August 31, 2019. See Exhibit E.

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16. Company’s actions in failing to submit payment upon the audit to which it 

submitted its books and records violate Section 515 of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. §1145. 

17. Pursuant to Section 502(g)(2) of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. §1132 (g)(2), Section 301 of 

the LMRA, 29 U.S.C. §185, the terms of the Agreement, the Participation Agreements, and the 

Funds’ respective Trust Agreements, Company is liable to the Funds for unpaid contributions, as 

well as interest and liquidated damages on the unpaid contributions, accumulated liquidated 

damages, audit costs, and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, and such other legal and equitable 

relief as the Court deems appropriate.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request this Court enter a judgment against 

Defendant Millennium Contracting Co.:

a. entering judgment in sum certain in favor of the Funds and against Company on 

the amounts due and owing pursuant to the audit for the period of July 1, 2017 through August 

31, 2019, including contributions, interest, liquidated damages, accumulated liquidated damages, 

audit costs, and Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs; and

b. awarding Plaintiffs any further legal and equitable relief as the Court deems 

appropriate.

COUNT II

(Failure to Pay Union Dues Revealed as Delinquent Pursuant to an Audit)

18. Plaintiffs reallege paragraphs 1 through 17 of Count I as though fully set forth 

herein.

19. Pursuant to agreement, the Funds have been duly designated to serve as collection 

agents for the Union in that the Funds have been given the authority to collect from employers 

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union dues which have been or should have been deducted from the wages of covered 

employees.

20. Notwithstanding the obligations imposed by the Agreement, Company performed 

covered work during the audit period of July 1, 2017 through August 31, 2019, and Company 

failed to withhold and/or submit payment of $740.96 in union dues that were or should have 

been withheld from the wages of employees for the period of July 1, 2017 through August 31, 

2019, thereby depriving the Union of information and income. See Exhibits D and E.

21. Pursuant to the Agreement, Company owes liquidated damages on all late or 

unpaid dues as revealed by the audit for the period of July 1, 2017 through August 31, 2019, plus 

audit costs, interest, liquidated damages, and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs as the Union’s 

collection agent, and such other legal and equitable relief as the Court deems appropriate. 

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request this Court enter a judgment against 

Defendant Millennium Contracting Co.:

a. entering judgment in sum certain in favor of the Funds and against Company on 

the amounts due and owing pursuant to the audit for the period of July 1, 2017 through August 

31, 2019, including dues, liquidated damages, audit costs, and Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorneys’ 

fees and costs; and

b. awarding Plaintiffs any further legal and equitable relief as the Court deems 

appropriate.

COUNT III

(Failure to Submit Reports and Pay Employee Benefit Contributions)

22. Plaintiffs reallege paragraphs 1 through 17 of Count I as though fully set forth

herein.

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23. Notwithstanding the obligations imposed by the Agreement, the Participation

Agreements, and the Funds’ respective Agreements and Declarations of Trust, the Company has:

(a) failed to submit reports and/or pay all contributions on its bargained-for 

employees to Plaintiff Pension Fund for May 2020 forward, thereby depriving the Laborers’ 

Pension Fund of contributions, income and information needed to administer the Fund and 

jeopardizing the pension benefits of the participants and beneficiaries; 

(b) failed to submit reports and/or pay all contributions on its bargained-for 

employees to Plaintiff Welfare Fund for May 2020 forward, thereby depriving the Welfare Fund 

of contributions, income and information needed to administer the Fund and jeopardizing the 

health and welfare benefits of the participants and beneficiaries;

(c) failed to submit reports and/or pay all contributions on its bargained-for 

employees to Retiree Welfare Fund for May 2020 forward, thereby depriving the Retiree 

Welfare Fund of contributions, income and information needed to administer the Fund and 

jeopardizing the health and welfare benefits of the participants and beneficiaries;

(d) failed to submit reports and/or pay all contributions on its bargained-for 

employees to Laborers’ Training Fund for May 2020 forward, thereby depriving the Laborers’ 

Training Fund of contributions, income and information needed to administer the Fund and 

jeopardizing the training fund benefits of the participants and beneficiaries; and

(e) failed to submit reports and/or pay all contributions on its bargained-for 

employees owed to one or more of the other affiliated funds identified in Paragraph 8 above for 

May 2020 forward, thereby depriving said fund(s) of contributions, income and information 

needed to administer said fund(s) and jeopardizing the benefits of the participants and 

beneficiaries.

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24. Notwithstanding the obligations imposed by the Agreement, the Participation

Agreements, and the Funds’ respective Agreements and Declarations of Trust, the Company:

(a) failed to submit reports and/or pay all contributions on behalf of Cortez to 

Plaintiff Pension Fund for April 2020 forward, thereby depriving the Laborers’ Pension Fund of 

contributions, income and information needed to administer the Fund and jeopardizing the 

pension benefits of the participants and beneficiaries; 

(b) failed to submit reports and/or pay all contributions on behalf of Cortez to 

Plaintiff Welfare Fund for April 2020 forward, thereby depriving the Welfare Fund of 

contributions, income and information needed to administer the Fund and jeopardizing the health 

and welfare benefits of the participants and beneficiaries;

(c) failed to submit reports and/or pay all contributions on behalf of Cortez to Retiree 

Welfare Fund for April 2020 forward, thereby depriving the Retiree Welfare Fund of 

contributions, income and information needed to administer the Fund and jeopardizing the health 

and welfare benefits of Cortez and his beneficiaries; and

(d) failed to submit reports and/or pay all contributions on behalf of Cortez to 

Laborers’ Training Fund for April 2020 forward on behalf of Cortez, thereby depriving the 

Laborers’ Training Fund of contributions, income and information needed to administer the Fund 

and jeopardizing the training fund benefits of the participants and beneficiaries.

25. The Company also submitted and paid Mr. Cortez’s December 2019 Participation 

Agreements report late and owes $572.00 in accumulated liquidated damages on that report.

26. The Company’s actions in failing to submit timely reports and contributions 

violate Section 515 of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. §1145, and Section 301 of the LMRA. 29 U.S.C. §185. 

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27. Pursuant to Section 502(g)(2) of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. §1132 (g)(2), Section 301 of 

the LMRA, 29 U.S.C. §185, federal common law, and the terms of the Agreement , the 

Participation Agreements, and the Funds’ respective Trust Agreements, the Company is liable to 

the Funds for unpaid contributions, as well as interest and liquidated damages on the unpaid 

contributions, accumulated liquidated damages, audit costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, 

and such other legal and equitable relief as the Court deems appropriate.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request this Court enter a judgment against 

Defendant Millennium Contracting Co. as follows:

a. ordering the Company to submit benefit reports and pay all contributions for

May 2020 forward for its bargained-for employees and April 2020 forward for Mr. Cortez and to 

submit to an audit upon demand;

b. entering judgment in sum certain against Defendant Company on the amounts due 

and owing as pled in the Complaint, and pursuant to the amounts revealed as owing pursuant to 

the May 2020 forward reports for its bargained-for employees and April 2020 forward reports for 

Mr. Cortez, and audit, if any, including contributions, interest, liquidated damages, audit costs, 

and attorneys’ fees and costs; and

d. awarding Plaintiffs any further legal and equitable relief as the Court deems just 

and appropriate.

COUNT IV

(Failure to Submit Reports and Pay Union Dues)

28. Plaintiffs reallege paragraphs 1 through 17 of Count I and Paragraphs 18 and 21

of Count II as though fully set forth herein.

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29. Dues reports and contributions are due by the 10th day following the month in 

which the work was performed. Dues reports and contributions which are not submitted in a 

timely fashion are assessed liquidated damages.

30. Notwithstanding the obligations imposed by the Agreement, the Participation 

Agreements, and the Funds’ respective Agreements and Declarations of Trust the Company 

failed to submit Union dues reports and dues that were or should have been withheld from the 

wages of its bargained-for employees for the period of May 2020 forward and from the wages of 

Mr. Cortez for the period of May 2020 forward, thereby depriving the Union of income and 

information necessary to determine dues submission compliance.

31. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Participation Agreements, and Federal Common 

Law, the Company is liable to the Funds for the unpaid Union dues, as well as liquidated 

damages, accumulated liquidated damages, audit costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs as 

the Union’s collection agent, and such other legal and equitable relief as the Court deems 

appropriate.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request this Court enter a judgment against 

Defendant Millennium Contracting Co. as follows:

a. ordering the Company to submit dues reports and pay all dues for the time period 

of May 2020 forward for its bargained-for employees and for Mr. Cortez;

b. ordering the Company to submit its books and records to an audit upon demand to 

determine dues contributions compliance; 

c. entering judgment in sum certain against the Company on the amounts due and 

owing pursuant to the May 2020 forward dues reports for its bargained-for employees and for 

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Mr. Cortez, and on any amounts found due and owing pursuant to the audit, including dues, 

interest, liquidated damages, accumulated liquidated damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs; and

d. awarding Plaintiffs any further legal and equitable relief as the Court deems just 

and appropriate.

June 15, 2020 Laborers’ Pension Fund, et al.

By: /s/ Amy Carollo

Amy Carollo

Amy Carollo

Office of Fund Counsel

111 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1415

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 692-1540

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