Court Opinion

ID: 9478301
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 06:45:30.102573+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:46:21.256876
License: Public Domain

MERRITT, Circuit Judge,
concurring.
I agree with the result reached by the Court and agree with the Court’s reasoning that plaintiffs have not offered proof showing a violation of ERISA in connection with the Cyclops-New Boston transaction. Neither have they shown a present violation of the collective bargaining agreement between the union and Cyclops. It seems self-evident to me, however, that Cyclops remains bound by the pension obligations of its contract with the union and will have to pay such obligations should New Boston default in paying the Cyclops obligations which it assumed. I have no hesitancy on ripeness grounds in so ruling in view of the explicit language of section 502(a)(1)(B) of ERISA [29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(1)(B) ] authorizing “a civil action ... by a participant or beneficiary [of a pension plan] ... to clarify his rights to future benefits under the terms of the plan.” See Janowski v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 673 F.2d 931, 935 (7th Cir.1982) (declaratory judgment action seeking determination of retirement rights was “precisely the type of action contemplated by the statute”), vacated and remanded on other grounds, 463 U.S. 1222, 103 S.Ct. 3565, 77 L.Ed.2d 1406 (1983); Chambless v. Masters, Mates & Pilots Pension Plan, 571 F.Supp. 1430, 1437-39 (S.D.N.Y.1983) (discussing ERISA, *204“more generous ripeness criteria regarding the clarification of rights”).