Employee Ownership Legal Digest
Christopher Wingard

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Chris is an associate in Kleinbard’s Business & Finance Practice. He advises corporations, shareholders, directors and employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) trustees on a wide variety of ESOP-related issues. He provides guidance regarding corporate governance, business succession planning, ESOP plan design and ongoing ESOP compliance. He has experience representing middle market corporate clients across a wide range of industries, including engineering, manufacturing, construction and professional services. Prior to joining Kleinbard, Chris was an associate in an ESOP legal practice based in the greater Philadelphia area. Chris is a graduate of Boston University, where he earned his JD and MBA, with honors. During his time in law school, he also counseled startups from BU and MIT on various corporate and IP matters.

Christopher Wingard

March 13, 2026

Court Permits Most Claims in Hollandia ESOP Suit to Proceed

Sawlaw v. Mosaic Capital Investors I, LP, et al., No. 3:25-cv-624 (W.D.N.C, Mar. 3, 2026)

At the motion to dismiss stage, a North Carolina federal district court permitted most ERISA fiduciary-breach claims, brought by former Hollandia Produce Group, Inc.’s employees on behalf of the company’s ESOP, to proceed against GreatBanc Trust Company (the ESOP trustee); Mosaic Capital Investors I, LP; True West Capital Partners Fund II, L.P.; certain other defendants; and attorney Michael Zeller.

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Christopher Wingard

March 04, 2026

Court Permits Cash Management ESOP Suit to Proceed Against Aluminum Precision Products ESOP Committee

Gustavo Moran v. ESOP Committee of the Aluminum Precision Products, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, No. 8:24-cv-00642 (C.D. Cal., January 28, 2026)

A federal district court in the Central District of California has allowed several ERISA claims to move forward in a class action suit brought by ESOP participant Gustavo Moran against the ESOP Committee of the Aluminum Precision Products, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

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Christopher Wingard

January 30, 2026

Court Orders Plaintiffs to Submit Specific Factual Allegations in Rule 7 Reply in ESOP Lawsuit Against Alerus Financial

Dalton et al. v. Freeman et al., No. 2:22-cv-00847-DJC-DMC (E.D. Cal. Dec. 30, 2025)

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California has ordered the plaintiffs in Dalton et al. v. Freeman et al. to submit specific factual allegations in a Rule 7 reply.

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Christopher Wingard

January 20, 2026

11th Circuit Affirms District Court Ruling that ESOP Arbitration Clause Is Invalid

Williams v. Shapiro, No. 24-11192 (11th Cir. Dec. 15, 2025)

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that invalidated an arbitration provision in an employee stock ownership plan sponsored by A360, Inc. (the “ESOP”), holding that the clause unlawfully waived participants’ statutory rights under ERISA. This ruling affirms the earlier procedural decision that allowed the claims to proceed. For the full history of the initial district court case and the underlying arbitration dispute, see the original NCEO Legal Digest entry: Court Rules Arbitration Clause Does Not Apply in A360 ESOP Termination Lawsuit.

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Christopher Wingard

January 13, 2026

80/20 ESOP Fiduciary Dispute Reaches Settlement in Principle

Walther et al. v. Wood et al., No. 1:23‑cv‑00294‑GSL‑SLC (N.D. Ind. Dec. 19, 2025)

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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Christopher Wingard

November 07, 2025

Plaintiffs in North Highland ESOP Lawsuit Seek Approval of Class Settlement

Howell et al. v. Argent Trust Company et al., No: 1:22-cv-03959 (N.D. GA. Settlement Motion Filed Oct. 17, 2025)

A proposed $2,375,000 settlement is pending approval in the class action lawsuit brought by former ESOP participants against Argent Trust Company, North Highland ESOP Holdings, Inc., North Highland Company, Inc. and other defendants.

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Christopher Wingard

October 21, 2025

Court Allows Certain Claims to Proceed in ESOP Lawsuit Against Alerus Financial

Dalton et al. v. Freeman et al., No. 2:22-cv-00847-DJC (E.D. Cal.)

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California has partially denied Alerus Financial N.A.’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ First Amended Complaint alleging fiduciary breaches in connection with a series of ESOP transactions.

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Christopher Wingard

October 06, 2025

Tentative Settlement Reached in Davis v. United Bank Corp.

Davis v. United Bank Corporation Retirement Plan Committee, No. 5:24-cv-00328-MTT (M.D. Ga. Sep 23, 2025)

United Bank Corporation has reached a tentative $2 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit brought by former employees claiming ERISA violations related to the forced liquidation of ESOP shares into cash at an allegedly improper price.

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Christopher Wingard

August 05, 2025

Court Grants Summary Judgment for Defendant in ESOP Legal Malpractice Case

Bowers + Kubota Consulting, Inc. v. Hansen Et Al., No. 1CCV-240000446 (KTM) (D.C. Haw., June 10, 2025)

Bowers + Kubota Consulting, Inc. v. Hansen Et Al., No. 1CCV-240000446 (KTM) (D.C. Haw., September 23, 2025)

A district judge granted summary judgment for attorney Greg Hansen in the valuation case involving Bowers and Kubota, a Hawaii architecture firm (the “company”).

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Christopher Wingard

July 18, 2025

Federal Court Dismisses ESOP Valuation Lawsuit for Lack of Standing, Allows Amended Complaint

MacTaggert v. Professional Fiduciary Servs., LLC, No. 22-cv-371-wmc, (W.D. Wis. June 18, 2025)

On June 18, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin dismissed a class action lawsuit brought by Scott MacTaggert, a participant in the Extreme Engineering Solutions, Inc. ESOP.

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