Supreme Court of California

ERISA does not preempt a mechanic's lien action under Civ. Code section 3110 brought by laborers to recover unpaid contributions to their employee benefit plans, because section 3110 is a law of general applicability that does not "relate to" employee benefit plans as required by 29 U.S.C. section 1144(a).

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/15/2003
• Published 12/15/2003

Judges

• CHIN, J.

Court

• Supreme Court of California

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
•  Gilbert & Sackman, Laurie A. Traktman, Kenneth J. Sackman and Steven M. Rehaut, Los Angeles, for Plaintiffs and Appellants., Reich, Adell, Crost & Cvitan and J. David Sackman, Los Angeles, for Trustees of the Southern California IBEW-NECA Pension Trust Fund and the Construction Laborers Trust Fund for Southern California Administrative Company, LLC, as Amici Curiae on behalf of Plaintiffs and Appellants., DeCarlo, Connor & Selvo and Desmond C. Lee, Los Angeles, for Carpenters Southern California Administrative Corporation as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Plaintiffs and Appellants.


• For Appellees:
  
• Mullen & Henzell, Derek B. Lipscombe, Santa Barbara, and Rafael Gonzalez for Defendants and Respondents.