KAPLAN v. SAINT PETER'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

No. 15-1172.

810 F.3d 175 (2015)

Laurence KAPLAN, on behalf of himself, individually, and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. SAINT PETER'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM; Ronald C. Rak; Susan Ballestero, an individual; Garrick Stoldt, an individual; John and Jane Does 1-20 Saint Peter's Healthcare System, Ronald C. Rak, Susan Ballestero, Garrick Stoldt, Appellants.

United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.

Opinion filed: December 29, 2015.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Jeffrey J. Greenbaum, Esquire , (Argued), James M. Hirschhorn, Esquire , Sills, Cummis & Gross, One Riverfront Plaza, Newark, NJ, Katherine M. Lieb, Esquire , Sills, Cummis & Gross, One Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y., Counsel for Appellants Saint Peter's Healthcare System, Ronald C. Rak, Susan Ballestero, Garrick Stoldt.

Monya M. Bunch, Esquire , Karen L. Handorf, Esquire , (Argued), Mathew A. Smith, Esquire , Michelle C. Yau, Esquire , Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Washington, DC, Ron Kilgard, Esquire , Keller Rohrback, Phoenix, AZ, Lynn L. Sarko, Esquire , Havila C. Unrein, Esquire , Keller Rohrback, Seattle, WA, Counsel for Appellee.

Jeremy P. Blumenfeld, Esquire , Melissa D. Hill, Esquire , Morgan Lewis & Bockius, Philadelphia, PA, Counsel for Amicus Appellant Catholic Health East.

Mark E. Chopko, Esquire , Marissa Parker, Esquire , Brandon Riley, Esquire , Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young, Washington, DC, Lisa Gilden, Esquire , The Catholic Health Association of the United States, Washington, DC, Counsel for Amicus Appellant Catholic Health Association of the United States.

Jared M. Haynie, Esquire , Chipman Gasser, Denver, CO, James A. Sonne, Esquire , Stanford Law School, Religious Liberty Clinic, Stanford, CA, Counsel for Amicus Appellant Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

Mary E. Signorille, Esquire , AARP Foundation Litigation, Washington, DC, Roberta L. Steele, Esquire , National Employment Lawyers Association, Oakland, CA, Counsel for Amicus Appellees AARP and National Employment Lawyers Association.

Laurence A. Hansen, Esquire , Hugh S. Balsam, Esquire , Locke Lord, Chicago, IL, G. Daniel Miller, Esquire , Conner & Winters, LLP, Washington, DC, Counsel for Amicus Appellant GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Richard H. Frankel, Esquire , Drexel University, Thomas R. Kline School of Law, Philadelphia, PA, Karen W. Ferguson, Esquire , Norman P. Stein, Esquire , Pension Rights Center, Washington, DC, Counsel for Amicus Appellee Pension Rights Center.

Patrick C. Elliott, Esquire , Andrew L. Seidel, Esquire , Freedom from Religion Foundation, Madison, WI, Counsel for Amicus Appellee Freedom from Religion Foundation.

Gregory M. Lipper, Esquire , Ayesha N. Kahn, Esquire , Americans United for Separation of Church and State Washington, DC, Daniel Mach, Esquire , American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Washington, DC, Counsel for Amicus Appellees ACLU, ACLU of New Jersey, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Before McKEE, Chief Judge, AMBRO, and HARDIMAN, Circuit Judges.


OPINION OF THE COURT

Subsection 4(b)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA") provides an exemption for church plans. These plans need not comply with a host of ERISA provisions, including fiduciary obligations and minimum-funding rules. ERISA § 3(33)(A) defines a church plan as one that is...

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