Duke Energy Workers Sue Over Cash Balance Conversion

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http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/13826545.htm

Duke Energy Workers Sue Over Cash Balance Conversion
February 9, 2006 – <snip>Plaintiffs are asking that the suit be certified as a class action, for an overhaul of the company's retirement plan with oversight by a third party, and unspecified monetary damages for lost benefits and interest.

The Duke plaintiffs allege that the cash balance plan unfairly harmed older workers in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). Duke made the change in 1997. The Duke suit mimics a closely-followed legal battle by IBM participants against the computer maker over its cash balance change. IBM lost that case and in 2004 agreed to pay $300 million to thousands of older workers (See Murphy Approves Partial IBM Cash Balance Proposal).
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