On Thursday, August 27, ERIC filed a brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in its litigation against the health care mandate on hotel employers in the City of Seattle. Our brief argues that the Seattle law is preempted by ERISA because it requires employers (both in the hotel and lodging industry and others who do business with these employers) to make direct payments to employees or provide specified levels of coverage under their group health plans, which has an inexorable reference to and connection with ERISA plans.
Today, the Restaurant Law Center, Washington Hospitality Association, National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center, American Hotel & Lodging Association, American Benefits Council, HR Policy Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Group on Health, and others filed amicus briefs in our favor. These amicus briefs help to highlight the national importance of the Seattle ordinance’s impact.
To read the retail and hospitality groups amicus brief, click here.
To read the benefits associations amicus brief, click here.
To read business groups amicus brief, click here.