HOW YOU CAN HELP
Even though it is not necessary to individually join in the lawsuit at this time for purposes of the ERISA claims, the LEGAL TEAM URGENTLY NEEDS YOUR
HELP.
Please review each of the items listed below and respond to each of them.
Here is how you can help the Legal Team help you:
1. Spread the Word to Other Retirees.
Tell other retirees of Embarq/Sprint and related companies about this lawsuit and this internet website. Ask each of them to fill out and return to the Legal Team the Retiree Contact Information Form (the next item).
2. Provide Your Contact Information to the Legal Team.
The Legal Team urgently needs to obtain your contact information and to collect evidence (documents and information) that you have. Click on one of the highlighted link lines below to open the Retiree Contact Information Form. You can download and print the Form either as a Microsoft Word document that you can fill in on the computer, or as a “pdf” file that you fill out by hand. Follow the instructions on page 2 of the Form about where to send your completed Form.
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You are urged to send in your Form as soon as possible in order to help the Legal Team move forward with case preparation and take steps to prepare an individual claim of age discrimination if one should be filed for you. Once the Legal Team receives your Retiree Contact Information Form, a member of the Legal Team will contact you about the steps that you need to take for an age discrimination claim.
NOTE: The Retiree Contact Information Form and some of the other documents on this website are in the form of a “PDF” file. If you have not already installed on your computer the free computer program, Adobe Reader, that will enable you to open and read PDF files, you can download the program for free by clicking on the Adobe symbol and following the simple instructions on that website.
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3. Gather Your Documents About the Benefits.
Please immediately begin looking for and gathering all of the documents, papers and notes that you have that relate to the information you were provided, or questions you asked, about the retiree medical and life insurance benefits. The legal team needs to review any documents that you received (1) during the last five years of your employment, (2) at the time you applied for and were processed and counseled for retirement, and (3) during retirement, including any letters or emails you wrote or received after Embarq’s July 26, 2007 announcement of the benefit changes.
Here are the kinds of documents that you should gather:
a. Booklets and other documents, including “summary plan descriptions,” that described or explained the retiree medical and life insurance benefits that people would have once they retired. Booklets about benefits for active employees often include some information about these retiree benefits and should be gathered.
b. Any written information about the retiree medical and life insurance benefits that you received once you began to consider or apply for retirement, including the information packets that explained what your benefits and options would be.
c. Any written information you received about special retirement programs, retirement incentive programs, or staff reduction programs that described retiree medical or life insurance benefits that a person would receive as a participant in the program, whether or not you actually took the program.
d. Documents you received during your last years of work or during retirement in connection with changes in ownership of the business you worked for which described how that would affect medical or life insurance benefits during retirement.
e. Any notes you made, and any memos, letters, or emails you sent or received, about the retiree medical or life insurance benefits, such as questions about how much the benefits would cost or how long they would last. (You do not need to gather documents about specific benefit claims or payments unless they also include general information about the retiree medical or life insurance benefits.)
Once you have gathered your documents, call the law firm assigned to your state to receive instructions about what to do next. Click on the “Contact the Legal Team” button on the left side of this page to find the information for the law firm that you should contact.
4. Tell Us If Your Job Involved Benefits.
If you, or someone you know who is no longer employed, used to be involved in explaining retiree medical and life insurance benefits to either active employees or retirees, either as a dedicated benefits/personnel representative or as a manager, the Legal Team would like to speak with you or that other former employee as soon as possible to learn what evidence you have. Please immediately call the law firm assigned to your state to receive instructions about what to do next. Click on the “Contact the Legal Team” button on the left side of this page to find the information for the law firm that you should contact.
Thank you for giving your immediate attention to these requests. The legal team is trying to gather all of the evidence that is pertinent to the case as quickly as possible from retirees like you. In our experience, retirees often have very helpful information that cannot be found in permanent company files. Your prompt, careful and thorough response makes our job easier and will ultimately help us help you in the lawsuit.
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