5 retired MLB umpires – including Joe West – sue benefit plan, alleging they are owed more money

Five former Major League Baseball umpires, Joe West, Tom Hallion, Gerry Davis, Larry Vanover, and Jerry Layne, have filed a lawsuit against the plan's retirement committee. The plaintiffs allege they were not properly compensated and claim they are owed over $5 million. West, who officiated 5,460 games between 1976 and 2021, was awarded $500,000 in a defamation case against former catcher Paul LoDuca.

The plaintiffs' legal representative, Paul B. Holmes, stated that MLB's offers were not competitive and the umpires were willing to accept less than the full amount to avoid litigation. The suit was filed in federal court in New York on September 29 and is against the American and National Leagues of Professional Baseball Clubs Retirement Income Plan for Umpires and its retirement committee.