The Sixth Circuit ruled that agents were properly classified as independent contractors in an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) class action brought on behalf of thousands of current and former insurance agents in Jammal v. American Family Insurance Co., No. 17-4125 (6th Cir. Jan. 29, 2019).

The Court reviewed the lower court’s analysis

Rejecting ERISA claims brought by a class of participants from an acquired corporation seeking past service credit for accrued benefits under the previous pre-acquired employer, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California granted summary judgment to defendants (an insurance company, the retirement plan, its sponsor, and its administrator) on all four