Senate Passes Bill Encouraging Settlements in St. Joseph Pension Fund Collapse

Thursday, May 10, 2018

GoLocalProv News Team

The Rhode Island Senate unanimously approved legislation to encourage court settlements in the event claims are made as part of the St. Joseph Health Services pension fund collapse. The legislation was recommended by special investigator Max Wistow.

The legislation, sponsored by Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, encourages parties to enter into a settlement and provides that defendants entering in good faith,  judicially-approved settlements would not be liable for claims from co-defendants for contribution or equitable indemnity regarding matters addressed in the settlements. 

“Last fall, I asked my staff to review any and all potential remedies to assist beneficiaries of the St. Joseph Health Services pension fund. Should the bankruptcy case evolve to a point where claims may be made, this legislation could provide a proven legal strategy that has been used successfully to encourage settlements in other high profile cases in Rhode Island,” said Ruggerio.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

The bill will now be sent to the House of Representatives.

Subpoenas Issued

As GoLocalProv reported in April, federal officials issued subpoenas on the St. Joseph Pension Fund, with the Diocese of Providence being one of the entities.

The subpoenas were issued by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).

The PBGC's role is to “protect the retirement incomes of nearly 40 million American workers in nearly 24,000 private-sector defined benefit pension plans.”

Similar Legislation

Similar legislation was enacted in 2014 to induce settlements in the 38 Studios litigation, in 2006 to address the Station Fire litigation, and in 1993 to address the DEPCO litigation.

In those three instances, it was found that many of the defendants had insurance policies that included what is known as a “wasting policy,” meaning that liability coverage is reduced as defense costs are incurred. In such cases, it is most beneficial to the aggrieved party that settlements be reached quickly, when more liability coverage is available.

---

Related Slideshow: St. Joseph Pension Fund Documents, August 18, 2017

Related Articles

• Wistow Files First Subpoena in St. Joseph Pension Fund Receivership Case
• St. Joseph Receiver Del Sesto Warns Cuts Are Likely to Be Implemented in 2018
• Former U.S. Attorney Says Hospital Conversion Act Needs Review to Avoid Another St. Joseph’s
• St. Joseph Pensioner Quinn Worked 34-Years and Now Facing Cuts to Her $500 a Month Payment
• Callaci: Memorial Hospital’s Closure & St. Joseph Pension Failure Show State of Healthcare
• Should Hospital Merger Process Be Changed After St. Joseph Pension Fund Receivership?
• Five Major Developments in St. Joseph Pension Fund Collapse
• 1,000 St. Joseph Retirees Hear Horrors of Impact of Pension Fund Collapse
• Diocese, RWMC and CharterCARE All Failed to Make Millions in Pension Payments to St. Joseph
• RI Treasurer Magaziner Talks ‘Back to Basics’, College Costs, and St. Joseph’s Pension Fund
• Investigation: Diocese Claims False - Board Directed Only $14M in Payment to St. Joseph Pension Fund
• Kilmartin Tries to Block Release of Records in St. Joseph Pension Fund Collapse
• Diocese Fights to Quash Subpoena for St. Joseph Pension Fund, Wistow Fires Back
• Judge Stern Shoots Down Prospect and Attorney General in St. Joseph Pension Fund Collapse
• Kilmartin Knew of St. Joseph’s Pension Collapse 10 Days Before Failure
• DelSesto, Receiver for Failed St. Joseph Pension Fund, Unveils Next Steps in Investigation
• 6 Months After The Biggest Pension Collapse in RI - What is the Status of St. Joseph’s Fund?
• Subpoena Issued to RI Foundation on $8.2M Questionable Gift Tied to St. Joseph Pension Fund Collapse
• LIVE: Whitcomb on Al Franken’s Demise, St. Joseph’s Pension Debacle, and More
• Key Trust Document Shows Bishop of Providence Has Oversight of Failed St. Joseph Pension Fund
• Judge Slams Kilmartin for Delaying Release of Documents in St. Joseph Pension Fund Collapse
• Diocese, Kilmartin’s Legal Delays Are Increasing Costs to Recover Monies For St. Joseph Pension
• Coming Monday - INVESTIGATION: The Real Cost of the St. Joseph Pension Fund Collapse
• INVESTIGATION: Diocese Underfunded St. Joseph Pension Fund by $100 Million
• Feds Issue Subpoenas on St. Joseph Pension Fund Collapse

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.