<ul><li>The widow of a former Coca-Cola executive sued the company for withholding his retirement benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).</li><li>The executive had enrolled in a 'Key Executive' retirement plan and a qualified pension plan, and designated his spouse to receive 100% of payments from the 'Key Executive' plan.</li><li>Following the executive's death, Coca-Cola refused to pay the widow the retirement benefits, claiming she was not the surviving 'spouse' under the Key Executive plan.</li><li>The lawsuit alleges that Coca-Cola's denial of benefits was inconsistent with the plan terms and the widow may be entitled to benefits under the doctrine of equitable estoppel.</li></ul>

Widow sues Coca-Cola under ERISA for former exec’s retirement benefts

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