Ruppert v. Principal Life Ins. Co.

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Plaintiff, as trustee of the Plan, brought this action against Principal, alleging violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. 1001 et seq. At issue was whether the district court abused its discretion in refusing to certify a class. The court held that the Confidential Agreement and consent judgment in this case permitted plaintiff to revive his individual claim in order to petition the district court for additional recovery and therefore, the district court's decision was not final. Further, plaintiff's voluntary dismissal of his individual claims rendered the case moot where plaintiff has relinquished his claims and there was no longer an Article III case or controversy. Accordingly, the court lacked jurisdiction and dismissed the appeal. View "Ruppert v. Principal Life Ins. Co." on Justia Law