In re: AME Church Employee Retirement Fund Litigation

Welcome to the In re: AME Church Employee Retirement Fund Litigation Settlement Website

NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND FAIRNESS HEARING

If you are a person who was a participant—or a beneficiary of a participant—in the African Methodist Episcopal Church Ministerial Retirement Annuity Plan who was entitled to benefits as of June 30, 2021, you may be eligible for a settlement payment and your rights may be affected.

  • A Settlement has been reached between Plaintiffs and Symetra Life Insurance Company (“Symetra”) of all claims that Plaintiffs are asserting against Symetra in a class action lawsuit (the “Symetra Settlement” or “Settlement”).  The lawsuit is called In re: AME Church Employee Retirement Fund Litigation, Case No. 1:22-md-03035-STA-jay (W.D. Tenn.) (the “Lawsuit”), and it is pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee (the “Court”).
  • Plaintiffs previously settled with two other Defendants in this Lawsuit:  the African Methodist Episcopal Church (“AMEC” or the “Church”) and Newport Group, Inc. (“Newport”). 
  • In this Lawsuit, Symetra denies that it is liable or at fault in any way, that it violated any law or duty, or engaged in any wrongdoing, and the Court has not decided whether Symetra or any of the other Defendants in the Lawsuit have done anything wrong.  Plaintiffs have agreed to the Symetra Settlement to avoid the costs and risks associated with continuing the Lawsuit against Symetra and to allow the Settlement Class Members to receive compensation.
  • You are included in the Symetra Settlement as a Settlement Class Member if you were a participant—or a beneficiary of a participant—in the African Methodist Episcopal Church Ministerial Retirement Annuity Plan who was entitled to benefits as of June 30, 2021, and if you have not been named as a Defendant in the Lawsuit.
  • The information provided to you in this Notice is only a summary of the Symetra Settlement. The full Symetra Settlement Agreement that has been filed with the Court contains the binding terms of the Symetra Settlement. You may find a copy of the Symetra Settlement Agreement on the Case Documents page.
  • If you want to participate in and enjoy the benefits of the Symetra Settlement, then no action is required on your part. You will be automatically included in the Settlement and will receive a settlement payment in the manner described below if the Court grants final approval of the Settlement.  If you do NOT want to participate in the Symetra Settlement, then you must take action by July 17, 2026, as described below.

PLEASE REVIEW THE WEBSITE CAREFULLY.  YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT.

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THE SYMETRA SETTLEMENT

  • Your rights and options—and the deadlines by which you must exercise them—are explained on this Website. 
  • Tennessee law prohibits retaliation for participating in or electing not to participate in the Symetra Settlement. Neither Symetra nor the Church will take any adverse action against or otherwise target, retaliate, or discriminate against you because of your decision to participate, not participate in, or object to the Symetra Settlement.

DO NOTHING

To receive your pro-rata portion of the proceeds from the Symetra Settlement, you do not need to do anything. Your portion will be deposited into your retirement account automatically if the Court grants final approval of the Symetra Settlement and final judgment is entered on Plaintiffs’ claims against Symetra.  

EXCLUDE YOURSELF FROM THE SETTLEMENT BY “OPTING OUT”

You may “opt out” of the Symetra Settlement if you do not wish to participate in the Settlement.  If you opt out of the Symetra Settlement, you will not receive any payment under the Settlement. Opting out is the only option that allows you to pursue your own claims (in your own lawsuit) against Symetra about the legal claims in the Lawsuit.  If you want to opt out of the Settlement, you must submit a signed request for exclusion (an “Opt-Out Request”) by mail to the Settlement Administrator no later than July 17, 2026. Untimely Opt-Out Requests will be rejected. 

OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT AND/OR ATTEND HEARING

You may object to the Symetra Settlement if you think that the Settlement is not fair. If you want to object to the Symetra Settlement and/or request permission from the Court to speak about the Settlement at the Fairness Hearing, you should submit a written Objection to the Settlement no later than July 17, 2026.