Meijer Narrows But Can’t Escape Health Plan Tobacco Fee Lawsuit

A lawsuit accusing Meijer Inc. of wrongly charging tobacco-using workers an extra $20 per week for health-care coverage is moving forward on a narrowed basis after a federal judge dismissed most claims.

The grocery chain provides “numerous opportunities” for workers to complete a tobacco cessation program and have the charges waived, Judge Hala Y. Jarbou said.

This satisfies the rules set forth under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which require that employees be given at least one chance per year to receive the “full reward” available to their nonsmoking colleagues, Jarbou said Thursday for the US District Court for ...