United States Fifth Circuit

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. sections 1001-1461, does not preempt state law claims of negligence for failing to maintain a safe work environment, even if the employee signs a waiver of such claims in order to participate in an ERISA plan.

Appellate Information

• Decided 01/15/2008
• Published 01/16/2008

Judges

• PRADO, Circuit Judge:, Before BENAVIDES, CLEMENT and PRADO, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fifth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Rex A. Nichols, Jr., Nichols & Nichols, Andrew George Khoury (argued), Law Offices of Andrew G. Khoury, Longview, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellant., Lawrence Edward Ackels, Jr., Ackels & Ackels LLP, Dallas, TX, for Silverleaf Resorts., Chris Marie Heffelbower, Larkin, Hoffman, Daly & Lindgren, Bloomington, MN, for Silverleaf Resorts and Silverleaf Club., Bruce J. Douglas (argued), Larkin, Hoffman, Daly & Lindgren, Bloomington, MN, for Silverleaf Club.