A Practice Note addressing the causes of action and related remedies available under Section 502 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) for violations of employee benefit plan terms and ERISA's requirements. ERISA Section 502(a) provides a comprehensive civil enforcement mechanism under which plan participants, beneficiaries, and other specified parties (including the Department of Labor (DOL)) may bring suit and seek remedies permitted under ERISA. As discussed in this resource, the federal courts continue to interpret the scope of ERISA's remedies in litigated employee benefits disputes.