Court Cases

An ex-spouse who files a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) with a pension plan following the death of her ex-husband is entitled to benefits. In Marker v. Northrop Grumman Space & Missions Systems Corporation Salaried Pension Plan, the U.S.

The U.S. Supreme Court delivered its opinion in LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, reversing a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the administrator of a retirement plan must follow the plan’s rules when distributing a deceased worker’s benefits, unless a “qualified domestic relations order” has been filed with the plan. 

Pension funds can now be used to pay restitution in criminal cases, according to a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. The court held that the Victim’s Restitution Act of 1996 clears the way for victims to go after funds held in an individual’s pension account when seeking restitution in criminal cases.