Employee Ownership Legal Digest

Stay informed on the latest legal developments impacting employee ownership. This page provides timely and concise summaries of key cases and rulings, contributed by experienced attorneys, to help the entire employee ownership community understand their implications, and also offers access to NCEO's archive of prior content.

Latest Cases

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80/20 ESOP Fiduciary Dispute Reaches Settlement in Principle

Christopher Wingard

On December 19, 2025, the parties to a multi-year dispute regarding 80/20 Inc.’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) filed a joint notice of settlement in federal court. For a history of the underlying “rightful buyer” claim, see the original NCEO Legal Digest Post: Claim that ESOP is rightful buyer of company dismissed, but other claims allowed to continue.

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Court Dismisses Lawsuit Over Fiduciary’s Failure to Report Breach of Duty within Statute of Limitations

Wendy Gilligan

On September 29, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina approved the defendants’ motion for summary judgment and dismissed the plaintiff’s fiduciary breach claims in a case in which the former President of the company and trustee of the company’s ESOP claimed the ESOP’s other fiduciaries breached their duties by allowing the misuse of corporate assets, undervaluing the company’s stock and negatively impacting his ESOP account by not making contributions, in addition to dividend payments, to fund the distribution of terminated participants’ ESOP benefits.

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Meet Our Authors

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Headshot of Alan H. Kandel

Alan H. Kandel

Alan H. Kandel is a Partner at Husch Blackwell specializing in Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation. He counsels a wide variety of clients—including ... »

Headshot of Christopher Wingard

Christopher Wingard

Chris is an associate in Kleinbard’s Business & Finance Practice. He advises corporations, shareholders, directors and employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) ... »

Headshot of Corey Rosen

Corey Rosen

NCEO founder and senior staff member

Headshot of Griffin O'Gara

Griffin O'Gara

Griffin F. O'Gara is an Associate in Krieg DeVault's Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice. Mr. O'Gara primarily devotes his practice to ... »

Headshot of James G. Steiker

James G. Steiker

Jim is Co-Chair of Stevens & Lee's ESOP Group and Chairman of SES ESOP Strategies, with over 35 years of experience in ESOP design, transactions, and ... »

Headshot of Lauren Wood

Lauren Wood

Lauren Wood, Associate Attorney at Employee Benefits Law Group PC Guidance, is involved in several areas of employee benefits with a primary focus on issues ... »