Rick Bien’s litigation practice involves defense of class action claims and other claims for financial services companies; employee benefit plans; life, health and disability insurance defense; Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA); employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs); trust company and financial litigation; insurance professional liability litigation and insurance coverage litigation.
Rick has been in the forefront of ERISA and employee benefit litigation. He was lead counsel in the leading case concerning preemption of state “penalty” statutes. Additionally, he has handled hundreds of litigated matters defending claims handling activities by insurers, plan administrators and other ERISA and non-ERISA regulated fiduciaries. His practice includes frequent representation of health insurers, health plan fiduciaries and health plan third-party administrators (TPAs) in provider disputes, provider contract disputes and plan participant claim litigation as well as anti-trust litigation. Further, he represents plans and plan service providers in Department of Labor investigations.