Photo of Blaine A. Veldhuis

Blaine A. Veldhuis is an associate in the Detroit, Michigan, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. His practice focuses on the defense of complex ERISA litigation and single plaintiff ERISA cases.  He also represents employers in a wide range of employment and labor matters.

Blaine defends ERISA plan fiduciaries, multi-employer plan trustees, and plan administrators providing services to ERISA plans. He defends ERISA 401(k) plan class actions, COBRA class actions, and benefit claims in the retirement and healthcare arena. Blaine has counseled multi-employer welfare and retirement plans, particularly in the construction industry, and has handled withdrawal liability, delinquent contribution, and plan merger matters. With respect to multi-employer plans, his expertise includes compliance-side issues and litigation.

He has significant experience representing defendants and respondents in administrative and governmental investigations, including Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Labor audits, and investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Michigan Department of Civil Rights, and the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Blaine also assists and advises employers on issues related to union activity, and other matters implicating the National Labor Relations Act.

Blaine's experience includes handling wage and hour claims, discrimination claims, sexual harassment claims, whistleblower claims, commercial litigation, and general employment litigation. Blaine regularly counsels employers in employee relations and discipline and discharge matters, and also assists employers in drafting employment policies and in complying with the federal and state employment laws.

While attending law school, he was a title editor for the University of Detroit Mercy Law Review and participated in the University of Detroit Mercy Veterans Law Clinic. Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, his practice focused on labor and employment matters as an associate at a firm in the Detroit metropolitan area.

Complying with statutory workplace requirements does not necessarily excuse an employer from its bargaining obligations. A panel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) upheld an Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) finding that an employer violated the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) when it refused to bargain over the effects of requiring  employees to submit new

The National Labor Relations Board has upheld an Administrative Law Judge’s decision to invalidate 11 severance agreements that provided payments to employees laid off shortly after an election in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.  The 11 individuals were awarded full reinstatement and back pay. Terex, 366 N.L.R.B. No. 162 (Aug. 21, 2018).

The National Labor Relations Board’s General Counsel’s office has issued an internal Memorandum (“Changes to Case Processing Part 1”) to all regional directors, officers-in-charge, and resident officers announcing immediate enactment of case processing changes.

The six-page memorandum, obtained by Bloomberg BNA, addresses four policies. Memorandum ICG 18-06 (July 30, 2018). According to the Memorandum,