Kent Mason Featured in Life Annuity Specialist Article on DOL Amicus Brief in Pension Risk Transfer Lawsuit
- Published Date: January 14, 2026
Davis & Harman Partner, Kent Mason, was featured in a Life Annuity Specialist article titled, “DOL Weighs in on Lockheed-Athene PRT Case,” where he discussed an amicus brief filed by the Department of Labor that could impact the future of pension risk transfer litigation.
In the article, Life Annuity Specialist details the recent Department of Labor (DOL) amicus brief filed in Konya v. Lockheed Martin Corporation, in which plaintiffs allege that Lockheed Martin’s pension risk transfer transaction with Athene put pensioners’ future payouts at risk. DOL argued in its 35-page amicus brief that concerns about the possibility of a future default by the carrier does not meet the standard of actual injury required for standing to sue.
Mason is quoted saying that the DOL brief and the recent Verizon verdict as positive signs for Lockheed Martin and other defendants in PRT-related lawsuits and was asked if this was the death knell for those suits. Mason said “Is this the death knell? I think we don’t know yet,” but “I’m certainly hoping it’s a death knell.” Mason further discussed the huge slowdown in PRT suits noting that there were 12 lawsuits filed in 2024 and one filed in 2025.
The full article can be found here.
