(December 29, 2016, 8:35 AM EST) -- CHICAGO — A Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel on Dec. 20 affirmed three Illinois federal judges’ decisions that an employer is required to reimburse multiemployer union welfare funds for delinquent contributions, saying that the decertification of three of its divisions’ employee union does not absolve the employer from its obligation to make contributions to the plans (Midwest Operating Engineers Welfare Fund, et al. v. Cleveland Quarry, et al., Nos. 15-2628, 15-3221, 15-3861, 16-1870, 7th Cir.; 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 22632)....