FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2010 Verizon Wireless Termination Fee Settlement Upheld On Appeal
Partial Refunds To Verizon Wireless Customers Could Be Issued Within 60 Days San Francisco, CA - The California Court of Appeal yesterday upheld a $21 million class action settlement that will provide partial refunds to Verizon Wireless customers who were charged early termination fees. The lawsuit, White v. Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless, challenged the legality of Verizon's $175 early termination fees. In July 2008, two weeks into a trial, the parties agreed to a settlement and Judge Bonnie Sabraw dismissed the jury. Judge Sabraw approved the settlement, but the refunds to class members were held up by two appeals filed by objectors to the settlement. Yesterday's ruling rejected those appeals, and cleared the way for partial refunds to be distributed to class members who were charged early termination fees from July 23, 1999 through August 10, 2008. "More than 175,000 claims for refunds have been filed by class members, but those refunds have been delayed by four objectors challenging the fairness of the settlement on appeal," said Scott A. Bursor, the plaintiffs' lead trial counsel. "Yesterday's ruling by the Court of Appeal confirms that this is a terrific settlement for Verizon Wireless customers, and now more than 175,000 of those customers will get a substantial refund." The settlement funds have been held in an escrow account pending the results of the appeal, and cannot be distributed to class members until all appeals are exhausted. That process will likely be completed within the next 60 days. The Court of Appeal estimated that a class member who paid a $175 early termination fee would receive approximately $87.50 under the terms of the settlement. Read the opinion online at bursor.com. About Law Offices of Scott A. Bursor Scott A. Bursor, www.bursor.com, has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in more than 70 lawsuits in state and federal courts throughout the country, primarily in the fields of telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and dietary supplements. Mr. Bursor has an active civil trial practice, having won multi-million verdicts or recoveries in four of four civil jury trials since 2008. Mr. Bursor has won numerous appointments as class counsel to represent millions of Americans. Mr. Bursor has been appointed by courts to represent customers of Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Sprint, and T-Mobile, as well as purchasers of Avacor™ and Xenadrine™ products. Contact: |