The new ruling is being hailed as a victory for retirement plan participants as well as a potentially important precedent-setting case impacting the special three-year statute of limitations that exists under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

The new regulations, which go into effect on March 6, will require broker/dealers and their agents to provide investment advice and recommendations 'without regard to the interests of anyone but the customer.'

Retirees sued for denial of benefits, claiming Delta was wrong to offset their pension payments by a workers' compensation settlement they received.