Monthly Archives: March 2011

Discount Hotel Websites Face a Class Action Lawsuit Over Tax Fees

According to Independent Mail, a class action lawsuit has been certified in Hart County against an online discount hotel sites. The lawsuit started about five years ago by Cobb, Gwinnett, Fulton, Clayton, Dekalb and Augusta-Richmond counties, as well as the cities of Cedartown, Dalton, Rockmart, College Park, Tybee Island and Macon. The suit claimed that online discount travel sites such as Hotels.com, Travelocity, Priceline and Expedia withheld part of the sales and excise taxes from counties and states. A travel discount website would charge $113 for a hotel room and then would book the room directly from the hotel for $50. They would also charge $13 in sales and excise tax but would only send about half of the amount to county or state of their online booking. The lawsuit alleges the websites should have sent in the full amount of sales and excise tax, and alleges the companies unlawfully…
Read More »

Posted in Class Actions | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Patients File a Class Action Against Cabell Huntington, Allege Radiation Exposure

According to State Journal, Cabell Huntington is facing a class action lawsuit alleging medical negligence of patients exposed to high-level of radiation in CT scans, specifically near the had and neck area. The lawsuit involves patients who underwent CT scans at the hospital between October 9, 2009 and November, 23, 2010. The patients so far have reported claims of hair loss, fatigue and burning sensations in the neck and head area. Officials from Cabell Huntington issued a statement saying that some patients may have been accidentally exposed to higher than recommended radiation during CT angiography scans in the past 18 months. The hospital apologized for the error and stated steps were taken to make sure it would not happen again. Officials contacted patients who had underwent CT scans at the hospital and informed them that they may have been exposed to radiation that was above recommended levels, but still within…
Read More »

Posted in Class Actions | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wal-Mart Class Action Lawsuit Heads to Supreme Court

According to American Bar Association Journal, the corporate giant Wal-Mart is heading to the U.S. Supreme Court over a class action lawsuit filed by six female employees. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2001, claims sex discrimination by the company, and pay and promotion violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The giant has faced previous scrutiny over its employment practices and has had to deal with lawsuits alleging overtime violations and making employees work through lunch and bathroom breaks. The class action lawsuit filed by six female employees sought class certification on behalf of all women employed in Wal-Mart stores since 1998, who may have been subjected to alleged pay discrimination policies. A federal district court certified the suit in 2004. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments at the end of March. The court will try to answer one question the retailer appealed: Whether claims…
Read More »

Posted in Class Actions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tenet Healthcare Corp Reaches Class Action Settlement Agreement

According to CNN, a class-action lawsuit over patient care during hurricane Katrina disaster has reached a settlement stage. Tenet Healthcare Corp, the third-largest publicly traded hospital chain, has reached a settlement with families who sued after loved ones died as a result of officials at Memorial Medical Center in August 2005. The hurricane knocked out power and the temperature inside the building rose to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit and hospital windows could not be opened. The family of Leonard Preston sued on behalf of patients who were at the hospital or had a relative who died. Preston was recovering from surgery to amputate his left knee and was awaiting transfer to a rehabilitation clinic. His family claimed he died as a result of abandonment by the staff. The plaintiffs claimed the hospital had no emergency preparedness and had inadequate ability to care of patients after the tremendous natural disaster….
Read More »

Posted in Class Actions | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment