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ERISA Lawyers in California

California employees and consumers are protected under ERISA when 401(k) or pension plans are mismanaged, overcharged, or misleading, and our lawyers can help you recover losses and hold employers accountable.
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California ERISA 401(k) Violations Can Come in Many Forms

Has Your 401(k) Been Mismanaged?

California ERISA High-Fee Plans lawyersYou worked hard for your retirement. You deserve to know that your 401(k), pension, or other employer-sponsored plan is being managed in your best interest. If you suspect your retirement savings have been eroded by excessive fees, poor fund choices, or self-dealing by plan administrators, you may have a legal claim under federal law — and experienced lawyers can help.

Matern Law Group’s lawyers have experience investigating 401(k) and pension plans for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Our practice is built on representing California workers. We offer free and confidential consultations, and we don’t get paid unless you do.

What is ERISA?

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is a federal law that sets strict standards for how retirement, health, and other employee benefits plans must be managed. It requires fiduciaries (such as your employer or plan administrator) to act solely in your best interest, provide full transparency, and avoid conflicts of interest. When they fail, ERISA claims can help you recover the financial losses to your account.

ERISA also covers denied claims for employee benefits like health or disability coverage. Before going to court, you usually must file an appeal with the plan. Our lawyers have experience guiding clients through that appeal and, if needed, filing a lawsuit. Appeal deadlines are strict.

Case Study: Baker v. Save Mart

Matern Law Group, alongside co-counsel Lieff Cabraser
Heimann & Bernstein and Bolt Keenley Kim, helped secure a
$20.5 million settlement in an ERISA class action challenging
the termination of promised retiree medical benefits.

  • The dispute:
    Plaintiffs alleged that Save Mart promised eligible nonunion
    employees lifetime retiree medical benefits, then terminated
    those benefits in violation of ERISA and the plan’s written terms.
  • The legal action:
    Retirees pursued a class action addressing the loss of benefits
    across a group of plan participants.
  • The result:
    The settlement established a common fund of $20,545,000.
    The court granted final approval on September 16, 2025.
    This was a settlement, not a trial verdict.

The case illustrates how disputes over plan documents and
benefit promises can affect entire groups of employees and
retirees. It involved a broader challenge to benefit termination,
rather than a routine appeal of an individual claim denial.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.


Read more about Baker v. Save Mart
.


Request a Free Case Review
Have your promised retirement or retiree health benefits
been reduced or terminated? Contact Matern Law Group
to discuss your situation.

Signs of Retirement Plan Mismanagement

California ERISA pension plan lawsIf you are currently or were recently enrolled in a 401(k) or other ERISA-covered plan, watch out for these red flags:

  • Underperforming investments that consistently lag behind benchmarks
  • High administrative or management fees that erode your balance
  • Proprietary or self-serving fund choices that benefit plan sponsors more than you
  • Lack of low-cost index or target-date funds
  • “Guaranteed income” or stable value funds that fail to deliver
  • Unclear or deceptive plan disclosures or fee breakdowns

Recognizing these signs early protects your savings, and our lawyers can investigate on your behalf.

Do You Qualify?

You may have claims under ERISA if:

  • You’ve noticed your 401(k) or pension isn’t growing as expected
  • You were steered into high-fee or poor-performing investment options
  • Your employer’s plan includes opaque or proprietary fund structures
  • You’re concerned your retirement savings aren’t being safeguarded

Our lawyers have experience working with employees from all industries, including healthcare, tech, retail, logistics, and finance.

Why Choose Matern Law Group’s ERISA lawyers?

Matern Law Group is a leading California plaintiff-side law firm with a track record of standing up to powerful corporations on behalf of workers, consumers, and investors. Our California ERISA attorneys bring:

  • Decades of litigation experience
  • Proven results for plaintiffs in complex class actions
  • Personalized attention and compassion for every client
  • A statewide presence to support clients across California
  • Recognition from Super Lawyers

What Makes Our Approach Different?

Our practice combines deep employment law experience with a strategic focus on financial justice. As California ERISA lawyers, we pursue these claims as class actions or mass actions, allowing us to fight back against systemic retirement fund abuse on behalf of groups of employees.

This aligns with our firm’s mission: to return power to the powerless. Your hard work deserves recognition, not hidden fees. If your employer or plan manager has betrayed your trust, our lawyers are here to help you hold them accountable.

Take the First Step Toward Accountability

Don’t wait to find out if your retirement plan has been mismanaged. These claims often have strict deadlines, and the longer you wait, the harder it may be to recover your losses.

  • Free, no-obligation consultation
  • No fees unless we win
  • Confidential review of your 401(k), retirement, or employee benefits plan

Call us today or fill out our form to speak with an experienced California ERISA lawyer.

What to Do When Your ERISA Claim Is Denied

If an ERISA-covered benefit claim is denied, you
generally have the right to an explanation and a full and fair
review through the plan’s appeals process. Start by reviewing
the denial notice, identifying your deadline, and gathering
supporting records.
Procedures vary by benefit type and plan.

ERISA Claim Denial Appeal Process

  1. Read the denial notice. Identify why the claim was denied, which plan provisions were cited, and what information may be missing. Save the notice and document when you received it.
  2. Confirm your appeal deadline immediately. Retirement-benefit plans generally must allow at least 60 days to appeal after you receive a denial. Group health and disability plans generally must allow at least 180 days. Check your notice and plan procedures; a plan may allow more time, and later appeal stages can have different deadlines.
  3. Request the relevant documents. Ask for the Summary Plan Description, applicable plan terms, and documents relevant to the denial. Relevant claim records must generally be available upon request without charge. Do not assume a document request extends your appeal deadline.
  4. Prepare evidence that addresses the denial. Explain why the decision is incorrect and include relevant medical, employment, payment, or benefit records. For retirement disputes, preserve benefit statements and communications about promised coverage. Build the record carefully because later court review may be limited to materials before the plan.
  5. Submit the appeal through the required channel. Follow the plan’s instructions, identify the claim, and keep a complete copy and proof of timely submission. Follow up on receipt and any requests for additional information.
  6. Review the decision and remaining options. Complete any required additional internal appeal unless an exception applies. Depending on the claim, external review or an ERISA lawsuit may be available. Court-filing deadlines are separate from internal appeal deadlines and need prompt review.

Is Every ERISA Dispute Handled Through a Benefits Appeal?

No. An individual benefits denial, a termination of promised retiree coverage, and alleged retirement-plan mismanagement can involve different claims and procedures. Baker v. Save Mart, which resulted in a $20.5 million settlement, involved a classwide dispute over retiree medical benefits. An attorney can assess which process fits your circumstances.

Official guidance:
U.S. Department of Labor resources on

retirement-benefit claims and appeals

and

health and disability benefit claims and appeals
.


Get a Free Consulatation

You deserve clear answers about your rights. Contact Matern Law Group to discuss your situation and explore your legal options.

Frequently Asked Questions About ERISA

What Is ERISA and How Does It Protect My 401(k)?
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is a federal law that establishes standards for certain employer-sponsored retirement and benefit plans, including many 401(k) and pension plans. ERISA requires plan fiduciaries, such as employers and plan administrators, to act prudently and in the best interests of plan participants. Their responsibilities can include:
  • Acting solely in the interests of plan participants and beneficiaries.
  • Prudently selecting and monitoring plan investments.
  • Avoiding improper conflicts of interest or self-dealing.
  • Monitoring administrative and investment fees.
  • Providing required information about the plan and its expenses.
When fiduciaries violate these responsibilities and cause financial losses to a retirement plan, affected participants may have a claim under ERISA.
What Are Signs That My 401(k) or Retirement Plan May Be Mismanaged?
Retirement plan mismanagement is not always obvious. However, certain warning signs may indicate that your 401(k), pension, or other ERISA-covered plan deserves a closer look. Potential red flags can include:
  • High administrative or investment management fees.
  • Investments that consistently underperform appropriate benchmarks.
  • High-fee funds when comparable lower-cost options may be available.
  • Proprietary or self-serving investments that may benefit the plan sponsor.
  • A lack of appropriate low-cost investment options.
  • Unclear or potentially misleading disclosures about fees or investments.
  • Investment options that are not appropriately monitored or replaced when necessary.
Poor investment performance alone does not necessarily establish an ERISA violation. An attorney can investigate whether plan fiduciaries followed a prudent process and fulfilled their legal obligations.
Can I Sue Over High Fees or Poor-Performing 401(k) Investments?
Potentially. ERISA does not guarantee that every investment in a retirement plan will perform well. However, plan fiduciaries have a duty to prudently select and monitor investments and plan expenses. A potential claim may arise when fiduciaries fail to fulfill those responsibilities, such as by:
  • Allowing unreasonable fees to reduce participants' retirement savings.
  • Failing to appropriately monitor poorly performing investments.
  • Selecting unnecessarily expensive investment options when appropriate lower-cost alternatives are available.
  • Choosing investments because they benefit the employer, plan provider, or another party rather than plan participants.
Whether these circumstances amount to a breach of fiduciary duty depends on the facts of the particular plan and how it was managed.
What Should I Do If I Suspect My 401(k) Has Been Mismanaged?
If you are concerned about how your 401(k) or retirement plan is being managed, start by preserving documents that can help show the plan's investments, expenses, and performance. Helpful records may include:
  • Account Statements: Recent and past statements showing your account balance, investments, and transactions.
  • Fee Disclosures: Documents showing administrative, investment, recordkeeping, or other plan fees.
  • Investment Information: Fund descriptions, performance information, and investment summaries.
  • Plan Documents: Summary Plan Descriptions, annual reports, notices, and other information provided by the plan.
  • Plan Communications: Emails, letters, or notices concerning changes to investments, fees, or plan providers.
You do not need to determine on your own whether an ERISA violation occurred. An ERISA attorney can review the available information and investigate whether the plan was managed in accordance with fiduciary obligations.
Can an ERISA 401(k) Case Be Brought as a Class Action?
Yes. ERISA claims involving retirement plan mismanagement may sometimes be pursued as class actions when the same alleged conduct affects many participants in the same plan. For example, a class action may involve allegations that plan fiduciaries:
  • Charged excessive fees to participants across the plan.
  • Selected or retained imprudent investment options.
  • Failed to properly monitor plan investments or service providers.
  • Engaged in self-dealing or other conduct that harmed plan participants.
A class action can allow participants to collectively seek recovery for losses allegedly caused by systemic mismanagement of their retirement plan.
How Long Do I Have to File an ERISA Claim?
ERISA claims can be subject to strict filing deadlines. For certain claims involving a breach of fiduciary duty, the applicable period may generally be:
  • Six years from the date of the last action that constituted part of the alleged breach or violation, or
  • Three years after the plaintiff obtained actual knowledge of the alleged breach or violation.
Different rules and exceptions can apply depending on the circumstances, including the type of ERISA claim involved. Determining when a filing period begins or expires can also be complicated. Because waiting may affect your ability to pursue a claim, an ERISA attorney can review your circumstances and help determine what deadlines may apply.

See What Our Recent Clients Have To Say

7/15/26
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6/25/26
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Thank you for helping me out and hearing what I am going through. I thank you for the support you have for me an my family. God bless you.

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How Matern Law Group Can Help

At Matern Law Group, we are committed to obtaining justice for you. If you have been a victim ERISA violations, we can help. Our firm prides itself on providing exceptional legal services to its clients.

At Matern Law Group, we believe everyone deserves to have a strong voice in the legal process, and we fight tenaciously to hold abusers accountable. We design customized strategies to help each client achieve the best possible outcome. Furthermore, our firm does not charge fees until we obtain compensation for you. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Did You Know?

401(k) High-Fee Plans
In California, employees are protected under both federal ERISA law and state consumer-protection principles when it comes to high-fee or mismanaged 401(k) plans.

Notable Employment Law Cases and Results

Our attorneys have helped employees and consumers achieve significant results in complex employment and class action matters.

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Is It Illegal, or Just Unfair?

Legal cases can be lengthy, complicated, and confusing, but you don’t have to take on the system all by yourself. If you believe someone has violated your individual rights, or the rights of a large group of people in your community, we can help you find the right course of action.

Complete the form below or call: 855-913-1134 for a FREE consultation today.

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