No. 25-986

MFN Partners, LP, et al. v. New York State Teamsters Conference and Retirement Fund, et al.

Lower Court: Third Circuit
Docketed: 2026-02-19
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Experienced Counsel
Tags: bankruptcy ERISA multiemployer-pension-plans pension-benefit-guaranty-corporation unfunded-vested-benefits withdrawal-liability
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Whether the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) can—through the auspices of imposing "reasonable conditions" on multiemployer pension plans (MEPPs) under 29 U.S.C. § 1432(m)(1)—direct MEPPs to exclude certain plan assets from the unfunded-vested-benefits formula in 29 U.S.C. § 1393(c) when calculating an employer's withdrawal liability, even though that statutory formula expressly includes plan assets as an input.

2. Whether MEPPs can calculate a withdrawing employer's allocable unfunded vested benefits and annual withdrawal-liability payments through methods that deviate from statutory requirements without obtaining the PBGC's approval.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation can impose reasonable conditions on multiemployer pension plans to exclude certain plan assets from the unfunded-vested-benefits formula when calculating an employer's withdrawal liability, and whether multiemployer pension plans can calculate withdrawing employer's allocable unfunded vested benefits through methods that deviate from statutory requirements without PBGC approval

Docket Entries

2026-03-06
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including April 22, 2026, for all respondents.
2026-03-05
Motion of United States for an extension of time submitted.
2026-03-05
Motion of the Solicitor General to extend the time to file a response from March 23, 2026 to April 22, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2026-02-13
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 23, 2026)
2026-01-08
Application (25A680) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until February 13, 2026.
2026-01-02
Application (25A680) to extend further the time from January 14, 2026 to February 13, 2026, submitted to Justice Alito.
2025-12-10
Application (25A680) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until January 14, 2026.
2025-12-05
Application (25A680) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from December 15, 2025 to February 13, 2026, submitted to Justice Alito.

Attorneys

Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund
Bradley Robin BerlinerCentral States Funds Law Department, Respondent
MFN Partners, LP, et al.
Derek L. ShafferQuinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, Petitioner
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent