Singing River Health case

After members of the Singing River Health System were inching closer to finalizing a decision on their settlement case, it looks like they will have to wait a little longer.
It has been three years since retirees from the Singing River Health System realized their pension funds were in jeopardy. Now the fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has set aside a settlement that will once again delay the process. Attorney Harvey Barton said, “The hospital was trying to file a mandatory class action settlement. In other words, here’s a settlement nobody has a choice about and we’re gonna make you a part of this settlement.”
Under the settlement, Singing River would put more than $50 million into the plan over a 30 year period, something Attorney Harvey Barton feels is a reason for the long overdue case. “It could be ended quickly if the administrators and county officials would do the right thing and come up with a plan to pay these retirees their benefits money that came out of their paychecks and they didn’t have a choice.”
In the meantime, attorneys involved in this case are constantly searching for options that will benefit the three thousand retirees involved in this case. Attorney Matthew Mestayer said, “More than likely the parties are gonna try to go in front of Judge Guirola as soon as possible to lay out a schedule and move forward and the information is requested.”
It could be years before this case is settled and Barton feels it could go all the way to Washington. “Frankly because it’s a case of first impression, it’s a case that may be right for the United States Supreme Court to hear.”