A federal court in Chicago has ordered the owners of an Illinois company to restore nearly $70,000 in health care premiums and retirement plan contributions withheld from the paychecks of employees at several companies that are part of the JJD Industries Group. The judgment resolves a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Labor Department based on the findings of an investigation by the department's Employee Benefits Security Administration.

The investigation found that John Dombek III and John Dombek Jr. violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by improperly managing the company's benefit plans' assets.

"Failing to administer health insurance premiums properly demonstrates a total lack of concern for employees and their families," said Steve Haugen, director of EBSA's Chicago Regional Office. "Incorporating employees' voluntary salary contributions into the general assets of a company and failing to forward them to the retirement plan are violations of both the law and the trust workers have placed in their employers."