A class action lawsuit was recently filed against the Microsoft Windows Phone 7 in the Federal District Court in Seattle Washington.  The lawsuit claims that the Microsoft Windows Phone 7 tracks GPS location data through the Windows 7 camera application even after the customer opted out of the reporting.  The lead plaintiff is Rebecca Cousineau.  Specific claims for damages have not been cited as of yet.  No official word has came from Microsoft but it is expected to fight the charges.  The Seattle law firm of Tousley Brain Stephens will be in charge of the case.

If you were enrolled in a health benefit plan of AmeriHealth Insurance Company of New Jersey or AmeriHealth HMO between the dates of September 11, 2002 to June 7, 2011 and filed a insurance claim you could be considered a class member of the Pontani Eating Disorder Settlement.  Please see the Italics below for the official statement released under the settlement terms.

The lawsuit claims that the health insurance companies violated the New Jersey Mental Health Parity Law by limiting or denying  claims relating to the treatment of eating disorders.  The lead plantifss are Peter Pontani and Louise Pontani, whose daughter was fully covered under AmeriHealth Insurance Company of New Jersey. 

In order to file a claim in the  Pontani Eating Disorder Settlement please visit www.pontanieatingdisordersettlement.com and click on the documents header.  All claim forms MUST be sent to the Settlement Administrator postmarked no later than September 19, 2011.  The final approval hearing will take place on October 3, 2011 and all objections are due by September 5, 2011.

Other available documents at the Pontani Eating Disorder Settlement Administrator website include:

Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement
Settlement Agreement
Second Amended Complaint Class Action Complaint

“You may be a Class Member if you are or were enrolled in a fully-insured health benefit plan of AmeriHealth Insurance Company of New Jersey or AmeriHealth HMO, Inc. (collectively, “AmeriHealth”) and you had a claim between September 11, 2002 and June 7, 2011 for payment of mental health expenses, supplies, and/or services relating to the treatment of an eating disorder that (1) was denied or limited because of limitations of coverage applicable to non-biologically based mental illnesses (“BBMIs”); or (2) was not submitted but would have been denied or limited because of limitations of coverage applicable to non-BBMIs. Your rights may be affected by a proposed settlement with AmeriHealth and Magellan Health Services, Inc., Green Spring Health Services, Inc., Magellan Behavioral Health, Inc., and Magellan Behavioral Health of New Jersey, LLC (collectively, “Magellan”) (AmeriHealth and Magellan are collectively, the “Companies”), in the class action lawsuit known as Peter Pontani, et al. v. AmeriHealth Insurance Company of New Jersey, et al., Civil Action No. 08-4580 (FSH) (MAS) (the “Action”) pending in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey (the “Court”).”

If you purchased Natura brand dog or cat food (Innova, EVO, California Natural, HealthWise, Mother Nature, or Karma) between the dates of March 20, 2005 through July 8, 2011 and live in the United States of America you are considered a class member of the Pet Products Class Action Lawsuit Settlement.

The lawsuit claims that the California’s Business and Professions Code was violated by Natura while advertising their line of dog and cat food.  The lawsuit states “Natura made false and misleading statements about the human grade quality of its food in its advertisements, promotional materials and labeling.”.  Natura denies all wrong doing in the case but has agreed to a $2,150,000 settlement fund to avoid any further cost of a lengthy court trial. 

Important dates include: 01-08-12 the date all claim forms are due by, 12-28-11 the last day to file an exclusion request, and 02-17-2012 the date of the fairness hearing.  Claim forms can be subitmied online at www.PetProductsSettlement.com or by mail.  To submit a claim form online a valid email address is REQUIRED. 

The maximum settlement payment for any given class member will be $200.  The case is entitled Ko v. Natura Pet Products, Inc. and class notice can be found here. 

Again, please file a claim at www.petproductssettlement.com

If UMB Bank charged you an overdraft fee during the dates of April 5, 2005 through August 31, 2010 you are a potentially a class members of the UMB Bank Fee Lawsuit Settlement and could collect a settlement. 

The UMB Bank Fee Lawsuit claims that UMB did not process transactions in the order that they were recieved and this cause certain customers to pay a overdraft fee.  It would be similar to standing in line at a bakery and ticket number 23 is called before you and your holding ticket number 20.  The settlement amount will depend on the class members business records for the given class time frame.  Payments will be made if the Court approves the settlement and a fairness hearing is set for October 31, 2011 to determine if the settlement is fair. The Defendants deny all the claims of wrong doing. 

Claim forms do not have to be filed and if you receive a notice in the mail, UMB’s records show that you are a Class Member.  A settlement fund of over $7 million dollars has been created.  October 11, 2011 is the last day to submit an objection or exclude yourself.

More information can be found at www.bankfeesettlement.com

If you purchased AirShield from a CVS store between July 1, 2005 and November 30, 2008 you are a potential class member in the Airshield CVS class action lawsuit settlement.

The lawsuit claims that CVS deceptively marketed AirShield products to consumers between the dates shown above.  CVS has denied any wrongdoing in the case. All class members can call toll free (877) 866-6275 with questions or concerns about the CVS Airshield Settlement.  A claim form can be found at www.AirshieldSettlement.com.  All claims forms MUST be in by November 15, 2011.  Please include the original receipt or packaging or both if possible. 

Other important dates include:

September 16, 2011 is the deadline for all objections and exclusion request.  Objections must be written by the class member.  If you exclude yourself from the lawsuit you will receive no benefit from the Settlement but reserve the right to sue on your own dime. 

The fairness hearing will be held on October 20, 2011. 

A copy of the settlement agreement can be found here.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act is being cited in another class action lawsuit.  The NASCAR Sprint Text Ad Class Action Lawsuit claims that while promoting its coverage of the Daytona 500 Nascar violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act  when it sent text messages to fans promoting the race.  These texts read ““FREE NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile lets you watch the action from Daytona live on your phone. Download now. Reply END to stop.”

The class members are seeking $1,500 for each violation of the TCPA, that could be a huge payoff.  Estimates based on that number put the damages at around$5,000,000.  The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in California by the San Diego law firm Hyde & Swigart.

A Nascar spokesperson commented:  “NASCAR has yet to be served for the suit, and to my knowledge we haven’t heard from the plaintiff nor her representative,” and “We don’t engage in this type of text campaign and did not send out the alleged text.”

Please check back for more updates.

If between February 19, 2006, through the entry of the Preliminary Approval Order you received a solicitation from Comcast directly or through its agents through the use of an automatic dialing and announcing device you could be included in the Washington Comcast Class Action Settlement.  Under the settlement terms each class member will get $100 for each robocall received.  All class member MUST file a claim form by 10/14/11 in order to be eligible for the $100 settlement.  To file a claim form please visit washingtoncomcastsettlement.com and print the claim form HERE. 

Other important dates in the Washington Comcast Class Action Settlement include:

10/28/11 – The last day to exclude yourself from the settlement
10/14/11 – The last day to file an objection
12/01/11 – The final approval hearing. The hearing will be held at Courtroom 15106, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, 700 Stewart Street, Seattle, Washington 98101.

The case is entitled Hartman v. Comcast Business Communications, LLC., and is in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.

All claim forms can be mailed to:

COMCAST CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR
c/o RUST CONSULTING, INC
P.O. BOX 2518
FARIBAULT MN 55021-9518

More details can be found at:  www.washingtoncomcastsettlement.com

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Kellogg’s and Kashi claiming that they mislabeled their products as free of artificial ingredients, all natural and/or contained nothing artificial when this was not really the case.  The lawsuit is entitled Michael Bates v. Kashi Company, Kellogg Company et al, Class Action Case Number 11-CV-1967 H BGS. 

Class members include anyone in the United States who purchased the Kashi products named in the lawsuit.  The lawsuit also states that the products contained synthetic ingredients which were labeled by the FDA as prescription drugs and federally declared hazardous substances.

Some examples of the products in question are:  Kashi GoLean Roll! All Natural Protein & Fiber Bars: Caramel Peanut, Chocolate Peanut, Chocolate Turtle, Fudge Sundae, Oatmeal Walnut; Kashi TLC All Natural Crunchy Granola Bars: Honey Toasted, Pumpkinspice Flax, Roasted Almond; and Kashi TLC All Natural Crackers: Mediterranean Bruschetta, Stoneground 7 Grain, Roasted Garlic & Thyme, Country Cheddar, Honey Sesame, Fire Roasted Vegetable, Asiago Cheese, Original 7 Grain, Natural Ranch.  For a complete list please see the lawsuit link below.

The lawsuit is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California and a copy of the Kellogg & Kashi Class Action Lawsuit can be found HERE.

Old Orchard has some of the best tasting fruit juice drinks in town but here may be a reason for that.  According to the Old Orchard Juice Class Action Lawsuit the Old Orchard Brands were not really made of 100% juice.  The lawsuit is entitled Micheal Mathias v. Old Orchard Brands, LLC and under the settlement terms a class member can get a $0.50 instantly-redeemable in store coupon for a Old Orchard Product.

The settlement terms also require that Old Orchard change the wording of the product to a blend of fruit juices on the product instead of 100% juice.  All objections and exclusion requests must be in by September 28, 2011.  The case is in the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Superior Court and is Case Number  BC430943.  A claim form is not needed the Old Orchard Juice Class Action Lawsuit Settlement.

More details can be found at:  www.mathiassettlement.com

 J.C. Holt, et al., v. Life Insurance Company of Alabama is under the rule of the Circuit Court of Franklin County, Alabama and claims that Life of Alabama breached its contracts with Class Members by paying benefits based on the amount accepted by the health care provider and not based on the amount actually charged or the usual and customary charge.  If you filed a a supplemental cancer insurance policy claim on or after August 31, 2004 you are considered a class member of the Life of Alabama Class Action lawsuit. 

When is the fairness hearing?  The fairness hearing will be on October 19, 2011 at the Franklin County Courthouse in Russellville, Alabama.

Settlement?  Life of Alabama has agreed upon a $5,500,000 settlement fund.  The settlements will be payable by cash to eligible class member.

Claim Form?  There is NOT  a claim form to file. Class action members eligible for cash awards will have a check issued to their address automatically.

More information can be found at http://lifeofalabamasettlement.com/.

Contact information in the Life of Alabama Class Action Lawsuit is as follows:

Life of Alabama Settlement
2224 1st Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35203

1-855-286-1158