Class Action Settlement News

Verizon Wireless has a public relations night mare on their hands… The Verizon Wireless Third Pary Bill Cramming lawsuit revolves around Verizon Wireless and how they allegedly “cramed” third-party charges into customers’ bills. “Cramming” is an industry term used to describe the practice of allowing unauthorized charges from third-party companies to be added to customers’ phone bills without verification of their authenticity.  Would Verizon stoop this low in order to make a few dollars?… yes according to the lawsuit.  The case is entitled Considine v. Verizon Wireless, 2:11-cv-02461 and was originally filed in Bergen County Superior Court by the lead plaintiff John Considine, of Rutherford, the case was removed to federal court in Newark April 29 based on the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) and federal question jurisdiction.  Mr. Considine also reports that when he contacted Verizon Wireless his request to take the charges of services he did not order of his bill were ignored.  Funmobile Games Inc. of Hong Kong (as the operator of hot-hot-news.com) and SendMe Inc. of San Francisco (as the operator of WT411.com) were also named in the Verizon Wireless Bill Cramming Class Action Lawsuit.  The claims made by the plaintiff are in violationof the Consumer Fraud Act, N.J.S.A. 56:8-1 et seq., and the Truth in Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act, N.J.S.A. 56:12-14 et seq., along with common-law unjust enrichment.  David Samberg (who is a  Verizon Wireless big dog) claims that he was not familiar with the Considine case but that Verizon is committed to stamping out fraudulent cramming.  On April 27, in AT&T Mobility, LLC, v. Concepcion , No. 09-893, the Court ruled 5-4 that a California rule that deems class-action waivers in arbitration agreements unenforceable is pre-empted by the Federal Arbitration Act.