Coverage for an Eligible Employee and their Eligible Dependents (if applicable) generally becomes effective the 1st day of the 14th month following the date of hire.

For example, if you were hired on January 12, 2009, the first Employer Legal Services contribution would be made for you by February 15, 2010 and coverage would be effective for you on March 1, 2010.

“Eligible Employee” means an employee on whose behalf contributions are required to be made to the Fund by an employer pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or written agreement. It does not include any person who is prohibited by law from being covered by the Fund or whose inclusion would cause the Plan or the Fund to lose tax exempt or qualified status.

“Eligible Dependent” means the legal spouse and the unmarried children under the age of 19 of an Eligible Employee who is a full-time employee under the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement. Such children include blood descendants of the first degree, legally adopted children and stepchildren residing in the household of the Eligible Employee. The spouse and children of an Eligible Employee who is a part-time employee under the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement are not Eligible Dependents.

The Plan does not cover any fees or charges with respect to:

• Any controversy, action or proceeding involving any Employer.
• Any controversy, action or proceeding involving any Union.
• Any controversy, action or proceeding against or involving any employee benefit plan sponsored by or contributed to by any Employer or any Union.
• Non-personal legal matters (such as business-related services) which could adversely affect the tax exempt or qualified status of the Plan or the Fund.
• Any action, controversy or proceeding against or involving the Plan, Participating Attorneys, the Fund or the Fund’s beneficiaries, attorneys, agents or employees.
• Any action, controversy or proceeding involving any labor relations matter, whether or not it involves an Employer or Union.
• Any proceeding, except domestic matters as defined above, in which an Eligible Employee and his/her Eligible Dependent are adversaries or in which Eligible Dependents of the same Eligible Employee are adversaries.
• Class active litigation or contingent fee litigation.
• Any filing or appearance as an amicus curiae in any legal proceeding.
• Any action, controversy or proceeding that does not relate to the personal affairs of a Covered Person.
• Any matters relating to the Federal Employers Liability Act, Admiralty or Worker’s Compensation law.
• Plaintiff personal injury claims or similar claims which are customarily handled on a contingent fee basis.
• Any controversy, action or proceeding with respect to which the Covered Person’s Union is prohibited by law from paying legal expenses.
• Any controversy, action or proceeding with respect to which the Covered Person is entitled to legal representation or payment of legal expenses from any other source.
• Any controversy, action or proceeding involving the Plan/Fund.
• Appeals from any judicial or administrative decisions.
• Any controversy, action or proceeding regarding the use of alcohol or a controlled substance.
• Any matter relating to estate planning except for the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, living revocable trusts, probate estate administration, etc. specifically listed in the Schedule of Benefits.
• Any civil action seeking recovery of money in an amount less than the maximum monetary recovery available in small claims court.

This information is provided to help you understand some basics of the operation of the Plan and the extent and limits of the legal service benefits available to you under the Plan. However, this information does not cover every situation and it is not a substitute for the Plan Document itself. If there is any conflict or difference between this information and the formal Plan Document, the Plan Document controls.