United States Sixth Circuit

In an action under section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA) and ERISA brought by retired employees and their union against Rockwell International Corporation and its successor companies to enforce what plaintiffs claimed was a promise by defendants to provide retirees and their surviving spouses with lifetime healthcare benefits, summary judgment for plaintiffs is affirmed where the district court correctly found that the applicable collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) contained such enforceable promises.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/16/2008
• Published 12/16/2008

Judges

• Before:  MARTIN and GILMAN, Circuit Judges;  DOWD, District Judge.

Court

• United States Sixth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  Michael A. Alaimo, Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone, Detroit, Michigan, for Appellants.  Stuart M. Israel, Martens, Ice, Klass, Legghio & Israel, Royal Oak, Michigan, for Appellees.   ON BRIEF:  Michael A. Alaimo, Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone, Detroit, Michigan, Charles S. Mishkind, Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone, Grand Rapids, Michigan, for Appellants.  Stuart M. Israel, Martens, Ice, Klass, Legghio & Israel, Royal Oak, Michigan, Carlos F. Bermudez, Michael F. Saggau, Associate General Counsel, International Union, Uaw, Detroit, Michigan, for Appellees.