Robert L. Richardson v. The Pension Plan Of Bethlehem Steel Corporation And Subsidiary Companies

67 F.3d 1462 64 USLW 2304 , 19 Employee Benefits Cas. 2033 , 95 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 8124 , 95 Daily Journal D.A.R. 13 ,943, Pens. Plan Guide P 23913S Robert L. RICHARDSON; William Alexander; Larry L. Aman; Kenneth R. Anderson; Jimmie L. Arrington, et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. The PENSION PLAN OF BETHLEHEM STEEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES; The Pension Trust of Bethlehem Steel Corporation and Subsidiary Companies; The General Pension Board; Michael Dopera, Secretary of the General Pension Board; Bethlehem Steel Corp., Defendants-Appellees. No. 93-36089. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Argued and Submitted Dec. 5, 1994. Decided Oct. 17, 1995. Steven Bert Frank, Frank & Rosen, Seattle, Washington, for plaintiffs-appellants. Richard J. Omata, Karr, Tuttle, Campbell, Seattle, Washington, for defendants-appellees. Before: JOHN T. NOONAN, Jr., O'SCANNLAIN, and LEAVY, Circuit Judges. O'SCANNLAIN, Circuit Judge: 1 We must delve into complex issues of statutory and contractual interpretation as we determine a company's liability for shutdown pension benefits following sale and eventual closure of a steel plant. 2 * The appellants are former employees of…