Retirees sue brewer Labatt over new $50K limit on lifetime health, drug benefits

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/headline_news/article.jsp?content=b062797A

Retirees sue brewer Labatt over new $50K limit on lifetime health, drug benefits
Colin Perkel
June 27, 2007 - 4:05 p.m.

TORONTO (CP) - Former executives are among a group of non-union Labatt retirees who launched a class-action bid Wednesday, claiming the beer maker and its Brazilian parent broke a promise to provide them with almost unlimited health benefits.

In a statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior Court, the plaintiffs accuse Labatt of breach-of-contract, conspiracy and unjust enrichment by capping benefits for retirees.

"This unilateral change constituted a breach of each (employee's) contract and violates his or her vested retirement rights and health-protection benefits and those of their eligible dependants," the claim states.

Saying the company's actions were "arbitrary, callous and high-handed," the suit also seeks $50,000 in punitive damages for each member of the proposed class, estimated at 900 retirees who were salaried and non-unionized and 700 dependants.

One retiree is Bob Smith, who was director of information technology when he left Labatt after 25 years in 2005 and then retired.

Smith, 57, a married father of two, received a kidney from his son in early 2006 and worries his benefits will be exhausted within five years because he needs expensive anti-rejection drugs.

FULL story at link.

[seriousstan]

1. Why does a Canadian need health care benefits? I thought it was all free and perfect.

[enid602]

2. coverage

Canadians often seek private insurance to have better coverage than that made possible by their universal health plan. The really amazing thing to me is that the Canadian mentioned in the story is concerned that the $50K coverage limit will not suffice given expensive kidney surgery, treatment and dialysis. Hell, that $50K wouldn't even last a week in the US.

[seriousstan]

4. Why would you want "better" than free and top notch readily available single payer?

[Solo_in_MD]

3. Good question

[eggman67]

5. This certainly seems worth discussing

You might get more play if you repost over in GD.