Preliminary Approval Granted for $44.4 Million Settlement in AME Church Retirement Fund Litigation

Court grants preliminary approval of a $44.4 million settlement as litigation continues to move forward on behalf of AME Church ministers.

A federal court in the Western District of Tennessee has granted preliminary approval of a $44.4 million settlement with Defendant Symetra Life Insurance Company in the AME Church Employee Retirement Fund Litigation.

This lawsuit was brought on behalf of thousands of AME Church ministers who suffered an  $88.4 million loss in the represented value of their church retirement funds, which was discovered in the summer of 2021.

This development marks another step in a broader effort to address those losses, and it follows the Court’s final approval in 2025 of two earlier settlements totaling more than $61.4 million, reflecting continued progress across multiple tracks of the case.

The Court’s preliminary approval indicates that the proposed settlement warrants moving forward to the next phase, including notice to the class and further review at a fairness hearing in August. If finally approved, the $44.4 million settlement and interest it will earn would bring total recoveries in the litigation so far to just over $106 million.

Matt Lee serves as co-lead counsel in the litigation, working alongside Jeremy Williams, Mark Sigmon, and Katharine Batchelor from Lee Segui. Together with co-counsel, the Lee Segui team has moved the case forward through discovery, dispositive motions practice, and coordinated settlement efforts.

This settlement is one part of a larger effort. As the litigation continues, the focus remains the same: holding responsible parties accountable and pursuing meaningful recovery for the dedicated and faithful ministers of the AME Church.

Progress in cases like this is incremental. Each step matters.