NAFA To Appeal DOL Rule Decision

By John Hilton

The National Association for Fixed Annuities announced this morning that it will appeal a federal district court decision rejecting its lawsuit to overturn the Department of Labor fiduciary rule.

Judge Randolph D. Moss of District of Columbia District Court announced his decision Friday.

The full NAFA statement was released this morning:

The National Association for Fixed Annuities (“NAFA”) announced today, following a federal district court decision upholding the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule, that it will appeal to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

“We are obviously disappointed by the court’s decision, but we have always assumed this case would get decided by a higher court and we are pleased the issues will get de novo review by the Circuit Court,” said Chip Anderson, Executive Director of NAFA. De novo review means the appellate court will consider the case without being bound or influenced by the lower court’s decision.

NAFA filed its lawsuit last June seeking a preliminary injunction to stay implementation of the rule, which is scheduled to go into effect in April 2017. Judge Randall Moss denied the preliminary injunction and at the same time ruled in favor of the DOL on the merits in upholding the rule.

NAFA’s lawsuit, one of four lawsuits against the rule, challenges the DOL’s authority to issue the rule, asserts the rule creates an impermissible private right of action, contends the rule contains unconstitutionally vague requirements that compensation be reasonable, and alleges the manner of adoption of the rule by DOL was arbitrary and capricious.

Anderson stressed that NAFA would move quickly to get the case up to the appellate court and would continue to seek a preliminary injunction. Anderson said NAFA remains optimistic that the courts will ultimately find the rule to be an overreach by the Department of Labor that is inconsistent with existing tax and financial services laws.

“NAFA believes the fiduciary rule will disrupt the distribution and availability of fixed annuities and have a particularly adverse impact on the low and middle income consumers who have come to rely on these valuable retirement savings products,” said Anderson.

InsuranceNewsNet Senior Editor John Hilton has covered business and other beats in more than 20 years of daily journalism. John may be reached at [email protected].

InsuranceNewsNet Senior Editor John Hilton has covered business and other beats in more than 20 years of daily journalism. John may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @INNJohnH.