Vazquez

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

INTRODUCTION

This ERISA trial involved a dispute over pension benefits owed to Plaintiffs David A. Vazquez, Jose R. Armas, and Samuel Moreno under the pension plans of Defendants Cargill, Incorporated and Associated Companies Salaried Employees’ Pension Plan (“Salaried Plan”) and Cargill, Incorporated and Associated Companies Pension Plan for Production Employees (“Production Plan”). Plaintiffs are each retirees who worked for over 35 years at the same oil facility in Fullerton, California. This facility was owned and operated for many years by Hunt-Wesson until it was acquired by Cargill, Incorporated (“Cargill”) in 1990. Plaintiffs contend that when Cargill acquired the Fullerton facility and employed them, it promised them that they would receive pension benefits for their years of service for both Hunt-Wesson and Cargill. Plaintiffs also contend that they and other employees were provided a summary plan description for the Production Plan indicating that they would receive pension benefits for all their years of service at the Fullerton facility. Defendants, on the other hand, deny that Plaintiffs are entitled to pension benefits for their years at…