Source: http://www.pbgc.gov/res/laws-and-regulations/code-of-federal-regulations/part-4221---arbitration-of-disputes-in-multiemployer-plans.html
Timestamp: 2013-06-19 22:57:25
Document Index: 370103709

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4221', 'art 4221', 'art 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4001', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4000', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4000', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4219', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4221', '§ 4000']

Part 4221 - Arbitration of Disputes in Multiemployer Plans
HomeWorkers & RetireesPractitionersResourcesNews & PolicyAbout PBGCHome > Resources > Laws & Regulations > Code of Federal Regulations > Part 4221 - Arbitration of Disputes in M...ResourcesSearchAnnual ReportsPension Insurance Data BooksFact SheetsStay InformedLaws & RegulationsERISACode of Federal RegulationsPBGC's Federal Register DocumentsPension Protection Act of 2006Information Collections under OMB ReviewOther GuidanceAdditional ResourcesOther ReportsPart 4221 - Arbitration of Disputes in Multiemployer PlansSec.4221.1 Purpose and scope. 4221.2 Definitions.4221.3 Initiation of arbitration.4221.4 Appointment of the arbitrator.4221.5 Powers and duties of the arbitrator.4221.6 Hearing.4221.7 Reopening of proceedings.4221.8 Award.4221.9 Reconsideration of award.4221.10 Costs.4221.11 Waiver of rules.4221.12 Calculation of periods of time.4221.13 Filing and issuance rules.4221.14 PBGC-approved arbitration procedures.
§ 4221.1 Purpose and scope.
(b) Scope. This part applies to arbitration proceedings initiated pursuant to section 4221 of ERISA and this part on or after September 26, 1985. On and after the effective date, any plan rules governing arbitration procedures (other than a plan rule adopting a PBGC-approved arbitration procedure in accordance with § 4221.14) are effective only to the extent that they are consistent with this part and adopted by the arbitrator in a particular proceeding.
§ 4221.2 Definitions.
The following terms are defined in § 4001.2 of this chapter: ERISA, IRS, multiemployer plan, PBGC, plan, and plan sponsor.
Withdrawal liability dispute means a dispute described in § 4221.1(a) of this chapter.
§ 4221.3 Initiation of arbitration.
(a) Time limits -- in general. Arbitration of a withdrawal liability dispute may be initiated within the time limits described in section 4221(a)(1) of ERISA.
§ 4221.4 Appointment of the arbitrator.
(b) Disclosure by arbitrator and disqualification. Upon accepting the appointment, the arbitrator shall disclose to the parties any circumstances likely to affect his or her impartiality, including any bias or any financial or personal interest in the result of the arbitration and any past or present relationship with the parties or their counsel. If any party determines that the arbitrator should be disqualified because of the information disclosed, that party shall notify all other parties and the arbitrator no later than 10 days after the arbitrator makes the disclosure required by this paragraph (but in no event later than the commencement of the hearing under § 4221.6). The arbitrator shall then withdraw, and the parties shall select another arbitrator in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section.
(c) Challenge and withdrawal. After the arbitrator has been selected, a party may request that he or she withdraw from the proceedings at any point before a final award is rendered on the ground that he or she is unable to render an award impartially. The request for withdrawal shall be served on all other parties and the arbitrator by hand or by certified or registered mail (or by any other method that includes verification or acknowledgment of receipt and meets (if applicable) the requirements of § 4000.14 of this chapter) and shall include a statement of the circumstances that, in the requesting party's view, affect the arbitrator's impartiality and a statement that the requesting party has brought these circumstances to the attention of the arbitrator and the other parties at the earliest practicable point in the proceedings. If the arbitrator determines that the circumstances adduced are likely to affect his or her impartiality and have been presented in a timely fashion, he or she shall withdraw from the proceedings and notify the parties of the reasons for his or her withdrawal. The parties shall then select a new arbitrator in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section.
(e) Failure to select arbitrator. If the parties fail to select an arbitrator within the time prescribed by this section, either party or both may seek the designation and appointment of an arbitrator in a United States districtcourt pursuant to the provisions of title 9 of the United States Code.
§ 4221.5 Powers and duties of the arbitrator.
(a) Arbitration hearing. Except as otherwise provided in this part, the arbitrator shall conduct the arbitration hearing under § 4221.6 in the same manner, and shall possess the same powers, as an arbitrator conducting a proceeding under title 9 of the United States Code.
(b) Prehearing conference. If it appears that a prehearing conference will expedite the proceedings, the arbitrator may, at any time before the commencement of the arbitration hearing under § 4221.6, direct the parties to appear at a conference to consider settlement of the case, clarification of issues and stipulation of facts not in dispute, admission of documents to avoid unnecessary proof, limitations on the number of expert or other witnesses, and any other matters that could expedite the disposition of the proceedings.
(c) Proceeding without hearing. The arbitrator may render an award without a hearing if the parties agree and file with the arbitrator such evidence as the arbitrator deems necessary to enable him or her to render an award under § 4221.8.
§ 4221.6 Hearing.
(a) Time and place of hearing established. Unless the parties agree to proceed without a hearing as provided in § 4221.5(c), the parties and the arbitrator shall, no later than 15 days after the written acceptance by the arbitrator is mailed to the parties, establish a date and place for the hearing. If agreement is not reached within the 15-day period, the arbitrator shall, within 10 additional days, choose a location and set a hearing date. The date set for the hearing may be no later than 50 days after the mailing date of the arbitrator's written acceptance.
(b) Notice. After the time and place for the hearing have been established, the arbitrator shall serve a written notice of the hearing on the parties by hand, by certified or registered mail, or by any other method that includes verification or acknowledgment of receipt and meets (if applicable) the requirements of § 4000.14 of this chapter.
(d) Record and transcript of hearing. Upon the request of either party, the arbitrator shall arrange for a record of the arbitration hearing to be made by stenographic means or by tape recording. The cost of making the record and the costs of transcription and copying are costs of the arbitration proceedings payable as provided in § 4221.10(b) except that, if only one party requests that a transcript of the record be made, that party shall pay the cost of the transcript.
(3) Witnesses. All witnesses shall testify under oath or affirmation and are subject to cross-examination by opposing parties. If testimony of an expert witness is offered by a party without prior notice to the other party, the arbitrator shall grant the other party a reasonable time to prepare for cross-examination and to produce expert witnesses on its own behalf. The arbitrator may on his or her own initiative call expert witnesses on any issue raised in the arbitration. The cost of any expert called by the arbitrator is a cost of the proceedings payable as provided in § 4221.10(b).
§ 4221.7 Reopening of proceedings.
(a) Grounds for reopening. At any time before a final award is rendered, the proceedings may be reopened, on the motion of the arbitrator or at the request of any party, for the purpose of taking further evidence or rehearing or rearguing any matter, if the arbitrator determines that--
§ 4221.8 Award.
(a) Form. The arbitrator shall render a written award that--
(2) Adjusts (or provides a method for adjusting) the amount or schedule of payments to be made after the award to reflect overpayments or underpayments made before the award was rendered or requires the plan sponsor to refund overpayments in accordance with § 4219.31(d); and
(3) Provides for an allocation of costs in accordance with § 4221.10.
(b) Time of award. Except as provided in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of this section, the arbitrator shall render the award no later than 30 days after the proceedings close. The award is rendered when filed or served on the parties as provided in § 4221.13. The award is final when the period for seeking modification or reconsideration in accordance with § 4221.9(a) has expired or the arbitrator has rendered a revised award in accordance with § 4221.9(c).
(c) Reopened proceedings. If the proceedings are reopened in accordance with § 4221.7 after the close of the hearing, the arbitrator shall render the award no later than 30 days after the date on which the reopened proceedings are closed.
§ 4221.9 Reconsideration of award.
(b) Grounds for modification or reconsideration. The arbitrator may grant a motion for modification or reconsideration of the award only if--
§ 4221.10 Costs.
(b) Other costs of arbitration. Except as provided in § 4221.6(d) with respect to a transcript of the hearing, the parties shall bear the other costs of the arbitration proceedings equally unless the arbitrator determines otherwise. The parties may, however, agree to a different allocation of costs if their agreement is entered into after the employer has received notice of the plan's assessment of withdrawal liability.
§ 4221.11 Waiver of rules.
§ 4221.12 Calculation of periods of time.
§ 4221.13 Filing and issuance rules.
(b) Where to file. See § 4000.4 of this chapter for information on where to file.