United To Settle Complaint Over Guardsman's Pay

DENVER (AP) - The Justice Department has reached a settlement with United Airlines Inc. over allegations that the carrier underpaid pension benefits to a pilot who was called away for military duty.

TenEyck LaTourrette of Aurora is in the Colorado Air National Guard. Under federal law, his pension benefits at his civilian job at United were supposed to continue to accrue while he was on active duty. Federal prosecutors alleged United had improperly calculated those benefits.

In documents filed Friday in federal court in Denver, United denies that it has violated the law but says it wants to avoid the expense of litigation.

It has agreed to compensate LaTourrette for all deficient pension payments, plus any associated earnings, which would total about $6,500. A judge must approve the settlement.

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