Feather v. SSM Health Care Corporation

Plaintiffs brought this suit on behalf of all participants of the Retirement Plan for Employees of SSM Health Care (the “Plan”). Plaintiffs allege that the Plan was underfunded by over $700 million as of December of 2014 based on standards applicable to retirement plans covered by the Federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Defendants are not entitled to rely on the ERISA exemption for “church plans” because SSM Health, which established the Plan and maintains it, is neither a church nor a convocation of churches.

On July 23, 2018, the Court dismissed the case and Plaintiffs filed an appeal.  While the appeal was pending, the parties reached a settlement, which was approved by the Court on June 6, 2019.  A copy of the Settlement Agreement and the Court’s Final Approval Order are attached.