February 22, 2022
Coalition Lead by Restaurant Law Center Files Amici Curiae in Supreme Court ERISA Case
Case Challenges City of Seattle mandate for certain businesses to provide certain level of health insurance
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Restaurant Law Center filed an amici curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the certiorari petition in ERISA Industry Committee v. City of Seattle. The brief was cosigned by National Federation of Independent Business - Small Business Legal Center (NFIB-SBLC), National Retail Federation (NRF), International Franchise Association (IFA), and Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA).
The case challenges the City of Seattle’s mandate forcing some hotels—and ancillary businesses like restaurants within these hotels—to provide a certain level of health insurance. The brief argues this mandate violates, and is preempted by, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
As the brief states, "It is critical that this Court recognize the potentially far-reaching consequences of this case. As businesses across the economic spectrum continue to address the unprecedented financial and operational challenges related to a pandemic, the mandates at issue could impact not only large national chains but also local independent operators and small, family-run companies that operate a range of businesses adjacent to large hotels."
“In adopting ERISA, Congress sought to create a national, uniform system for regulating employee benefit plans,” said Angelo Amador, Executive Director of the Restaurant Law Center. “Seattle’s ordinance obligations are particularly problematic in light of the toll the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions have taken on a wide variety of restaurant, hospitality, independent, retail, and franchise businesses. At a time when every level of government should be working to ease burdens on businesses for the benefit of their communities and employees, Seattle seeks to illegally add additional burdens that many businesses simply will be unable to bear. The U.S. Supreme Court should intervene and reverse the decision of the Ninth Circuit.”
Read the full brief here.
The case challenges the City of Seattle’s mandate forcing some hotels—and ancillary businesses like restaurants within these hotels—to provide a certain level of health insurance. The brief argues this mandate violates, and is preempted by, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
As the brief states, "It is critical that this Court recognize the potentially far-reaching consequences of this case. As businesses across the economic spectrum continue to address the unprecedented financial and operational challenges related to a pandemic, the mandates at issue could impact not only large national chains but also local independent operators and small, family-run companies that operate a range of businesses adjacent to large hotels."
“In adopting ERISA, Congress sought to create a national, uniform system for regulating employee benefit plans,” said Angelo Amador, Executive Director of the Restaurant Law Center. “Seattle’s ordinance obligations are particularly problematic in light of the toll the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions have taken on a wide variety of restaurant, hospitality, independent, retail, and franchise businesses. At a time when every level of government should be working to ease burdens on businesses for the benefit of their communities and employees, Seattle seeks to illegally add additional burdens that many businesses simply will be unable to bear. The U.S. Supreme Court should intervene and reverse the decision of the Ninth Circuit.”
Read the full brief here.
About the Restaurant Law Center
The Restaurant Law Center (Law Center) is an independent public policy organization affiliated with the National Restaurant Association. It was established to enhance the industry’s voice in the judicial and regulatory arena. The Law Center works to protect and advance the restaurant industry and promote pro-business laws and regulations that allow restaurants to continue to grow, create jobs and contribute to a robust American economy. Find more information at restaurantlawcenter.org.