A dispute over retiree healthcare benefits which has been hotly litigated for 14 years reached the end of the road with the Supreme Court’s decision in CNH Indus. N.V. v. Reese, No. 17-515, __S.Ct.__, 2018 WL 942419 (U.S. Feb. 20, 2018).  In this case, retirees brought suit against their employer, CNH Industrial N.V. (“CNH”) seeking a declaratory judgment that they were entitled to lifetime health care benefits, a permanent injunction requiring CNH to maintain the level of retiree health care benefits then in effect, and damages for injuries the retirees might sustain if benefits were terminated.

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan granted summary judgment to the retirees and awarded them attorneys’ fees.  CNH appealed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals which affirmed in part, reversed in part, remanded, and denied rehearing.  The District Court again granted summary judgment to the retirees.  The Sixth Circuit reversed and remanded.  The District Court then awarded summary judgment to CNH, but on reconsideration awarded summary judgment to the retirees.  CNH appealed again and the Sixth Circuit affirmed and remanded.
Continue Reading Supreme Court Hands a Loss to Retirees In Dispute Over Lifetime Health Care Benefits