ERISA lawsuit filed against Nvidia; suit against Cornell settled

ERISA lawsuit filed against Nvidia; suit against Cornell settled
Law firm Capozzi Adler filed its latest 401(k) suit and Schlichter Bogard & Denton reached a deal in a case against an Ivy League school
SEP 04, 2020

Technology company Nvidia Corp. is facing a lawsuit over its 401(k) plan, which plaintiffs allege had higher than necessary investment management fees.

The complaint filed Aug. 28 in U.S. District Court in Northern California by law firm Capozzi Adler is similar to one the firm recently brought against B. Braun Medical. In both cases, the plaintiffs allege that the plan sponsor did not opt for the lowest-cost share classes of available investments or consider less expensive investments from different providers. And both cases both point to a shift in the plans’ target-date series from T. Rowe Price mutual funds to collective investment trusts managed by that company.

That change, which occurred in 2008, “was too little, too late, as the damages suffered by plan participants to that point had already been baked in,” the complaint states, echoing the language in the Aug. 26 complaint against B. Braun Medical. The cases both allege breaches of fiduciary duties of loyalty and prudence and a failure to monitor fiduciaries.

Pennsylvania law firm Capozzi Adler has filed dozens of excessive-fee 401(k) cases on behalf of clients this year, by far more than another other litigator, according to a recent analysis by Bloomberg Law.

The Nvidia plan represented more than $1 billion in assets as of the end of 2018, with about 7,300 participants, according to data from the Department of Labor.

Nvidia declined to comment on the lawsuit.

ANOTHER CASE SETTLED

A long-running case involving Cornell University’s 403(b) plan has been settled, according to a court filing Tuesday.

That lawsuit, one of many brought against colleges and universities by law firm Schlichter Bogard & Denton, was slated for a jury trial beginning Sept. 29. The terms of the settlement were not yet disclosed.

The case had one remaining claim that survived summary judgment, that the plan’s retention of TIAA-CREF Lifecycle target-date funds was allegedly imprudent. In September 2019, the judge overseeing the case granted summary judgment for Cornell on all other counts.

In an amended complaint filed in 2017, the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit brought eight claims calling out alleged breach of fiduciary duties, prohibited transactions, unreasonable administrative fees, unreasonable investment management fees and failure to monitor fiduciaries.

Schlichter has reached massive settlements with other elite colleges and universities over their defined-contribution plans, including an $18 million settlement with MIT, $14.5 million agreement with Vanderbilt University, a deal of more than $10 million with Duke University and a nearly $17 million settlement with Emory University.

Latest News

The 2025 InvestmentNews Awards Excellence Awardees revealed
The 2025 InvestmentNews Awards Excellence Awardees revealed

From outstanding individuals to innovative organizations, find out who made the final shortlist for top honors at the IN awards, now in its second year.

Top RIA Cresset warns of 'inevitable' recession amid tariff uncertainty
Top RIA Cresset warns of 'inevitable' recession amid tariff uncertainty

Cresset's Susie Cranston is expecting an economic recession, but says her $65 billion RIA sees "great opportunity" to keep investing in a down market.

Edward Jones joins the crowd to sell more alternative investments
Edward Jones joins the crowd to sell more alternative investments

“There’s a big pull to alternative investments right now because of volatility of the stock market,” Kevin Gannon, CEO of Robert A. Stanger & Co., said.

Record RIA M&A activity marks strong start to 2025
Record RIA M&A activity marks strong start to 2025

Sellers shift focus: It's not about succession anymore.

IB+ Data Hub offers strategic edge for U.S. wealth advisors and RIAs advising business clients
IB+ Data Hub offers strategic edge for U.S. wealth advisors and RIAs advising business clients

Platform being adopted by independent-minded advisors who see insurance as a core pillar of their business.

SPONSORED Compliance in real time: Technology's expanding role in RIA oversight

RIAs face rising regulatory pressure in 2025. Forward-looking firms are responding with embedded technology, not more paperwork.

SPONSORED Advisory firms confront crossroads amid historic wealth transfer

As inheritances are set to reshape client portfolios and next-gen heirs demand digital-first experiences, firms are retooling their wealth tech stacks and succession models in real time.