California Appellate Tracker

In re Becker (Becker v. U.S. Dist. Ct.) (9th Cir. 2021)

April 1, 2021

Wells Fargo’s ERISA plan contained a forum selection clause, choosing the District of Minnesota, where the plan was administered. This decision holds sthat the forum selection clause is enforceable. ERISA allows a plan beneficiary three venues for bringing suit. 29 U.S.C. § 1132. Wells Fargo clause specified one of them. If Congress had meant to bar forum selection clauses in ERISA plans, it would have said so, but it did not. Moreover, the forum selection clause serves ERISA’s purposes by guaranteeing a venue in federal court while also concentrating litigation in a single court, thereby promoting consistent interpretation a single plan’s provisions.

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California Appellate Tracker

In re Becker (Becker v. U.S. Dist. Ct.) (9th Cir. 2021)

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