CHARLESTON — A man is suing CONSOL Energy for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Consolidation Coal Co. was also named as a defendant in the suit.
Edmond Stephenson worked for CONSOL for many years and was laid off in 2013. He was informed that if he went to work elsewhere and later wanted to activate his retiree welfare benefits with CONSOL he would remain able to do so at any time in the future, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Stephenson claims he worked for Logan Corp. from 2014 until 2015 when he was laid off from Logan Corp. He then called CONSOL to request activation of his retirement and enroll in the Retiree Welfare Plan, he was informed if he paid premiums he could reactivate the plan, which he did.
Stephenson was later informed his benefits would be terminated on Dec. 31, 2015, instead of the lifetime retirement welfare benefits he was told he would have.
Stephenson is seeking compensatory damages. He is represented by Samuel B. Petsonk of Petsonk PLLC in Beckley and Bren J. Pomponio and Laura Davidson of Mountain State Justice in Charleston.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia case number: 2:21-cv-00269
