Press Release on The Wellpoint Settlement - 07/15/05
The Lamb Firm
For Immediate Release:
Physicians' Settlement Agreement With Wellpoint Receives Preliminary Approval; U.S. District Court Judge Moreno Sets Final Approval Hearing For December 2, 2005
Birmingham, AL - Wellpoint and representatives of over 700,000 physicians, state and other medical societies received preliminary approval of the landmark settlement agreement in the national class action pending in the federal court for the Southern District of Florida. The agreement, announced on Monday, includes industry-leading improvements to physician-related business practices.
U.S. District Court Judge Federico Moreno granted preliminary approval of the settlement agreement today in Miami and set Monday, December 2, 2005 as the date for the fairness hearing. An order will be drafted and issued on the findings announced by Judge Moreno in open court today.
The settlement agreement that was granted preliminary approval today, came in response to a lawsuit filed to combat widespread and chronic abuses by some of the nation's largest for-profit health maintenance organizations (HMOs). The suit identified Wellpoint, as well as Aetna, United Healthcare, CIGNA, Coventry, Humana Health Plan, Inc, and Pacificare Health Systems, Inc. as co-conspirators who have violated contracts and defrauded doctors in violation of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO). The lawsuit against the four remaining defendants continues before Judge Moreno with a January trial date.
Co-lead counsel for the Plaintiff Physicians, Archie Lamb noted that, "This settlement is a landmark accord that reiterates the supremacy of the physician and his patient's input in all healthcare decisions. We are pleased with today's prompt preliminary approval and look forward to the next step toward final judicial approval."
The case is being heard in the United States District Court, Southern
District of Florida, Miami Division: MDL No. 1334; Master File No.
00-1334-MD-Moreno. Additional background information on the case can be found online at http://www.hmocrisis.com. This site includes a complete copy of the settlement agreement as well as other related materials.
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