Five retired MLB umpires sue pension plan, claiming over $2 million in underpaid benefits
A group of five retired Major League Baseball umpires, including Joe West, Tom Hallion, Gerry Davis, Larry Vanover, and Jerry Layne, filed a federal lawsuit in New York in late September alleging their pension benefits were calculated incorrectly. The suit names the American and National Leagues' retirement income plan for umpires and its retirement committee as defendants, with the umpires claiming they are collectively owed more than $2 million. The five filed as individuals and did not involve the umpires' union, according to their attorney. A pretrial conference has been scheduled for December 11.
The five sued as individuals and did not involve the umpires' union, their lawyer, Paul B. Holmes, said, per the AP.
Why it matters
For media: The lawsuit involves several well-known veteran umpires and includes colorful on-the-record comments, making it a notable human-interest story within baseball coverage.
For athletes: Retired professional sports officials may have grounds to scrutinize how their pension benefits are calculated, particularly if they believe plan administrators have misapplied the relevant formulas.
For collectives: The case highlights pension administration disputes that can arise outside of union channels, relevant to any organization managing retirement benefits for sports labor.
Read the full story at CBS Sports
Sources
- CBS Sports · Dayn Perry: Group of retired MLB umpires, including Joe West, file lawsuit alleging they are owed more than $2 million
- The Athletic: Five retired MLB umpires, including Joe West, file suit over alleged pension underpayments