Media

$417 Million Secured in False Claims Act Case

Leon Hampton

Battling to Protect Consumers from Unlawful Betting Practices in Alabama

Alabama AG Files Lawsuit Against TikTok for Targeting Teens

Fatal Flight: Investigating Mississippi Medical Helicopter Crash

Mike Andrews

Fatal Fishing Collision: Justice For Smith Lake Victims

Mike Andrews

$1.25 Million Meter Malfunction Victory in Phenix City

Gavin King

Elizabeth Walden

Court Denies Social Media Companies’ Appeal in Youth Addiction Case

We are happy to share that a group of appellate judges in California has rejected an appeal from social media companies trying to avoid trials over youth social media addiction claims. On December 6, the Second Appellate District reviewed the briefs from both sides and denied the petition from Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

Joseph VanZandt

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed After Deadly Dollar Store Shooting

On the evening of February 2, 2024, Lem Johnny Johnson IV, a 20-year-old, was tragically shot at the Family Dollar on Riverdale Road. Johnson was dropped off at the store by his mother, Sheila Brooks. Moments after entering, gunfire erupted, and Johnson was found on the store’s floor with multiple gunshot wounds.  

Ben Keen

Judge Greenlights School Districts’ Claims Against Social Media Giants

$2.8 Billion Settlement Reached in Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Case

Monumental. The largest antitrust settlement in U.S. Healthcare History, $2.8 billion, was announced on October 14, 2024, by the Provider side settlement team in the Blue Cross Blue Shield MDL, a long-running antitrust lawsuit representing healthcare providers nationwide. This landmark settlement was negotiated over several years by a dedicated committee, including Beasley Allen’s Dee Miles.

The settlement involves all Blue Cross and Blue Shield entities across the country and includes a $2.8 billion cash payment into a settlement fund, as well as investments by the Blues of hundreds of millions of dollars in system improvements for the benefit of providers.

What Will The Settlement Achieve?

The settlement aims to resolve claims that the Blues violated antitrust laws by dividing markets and fixing prices.

It also introduces important changes to the BlueCard Program, which will:

• Improve how claims are processed
• Enhance payment methods to providers
• Reduce administrative burdens and inefficiencies

Benefits For Healthcare Providers

The settlement provides healthcare providers with:

• More opportunities to contract with the Blues
• Reduced administrative burdens
• Increased efficiency in claims processing and payments

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, along with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, will be held accountable by an appointed Monitoring Committee for five years after the settlement’s effective date, following the Court’s final approval. The Provider Plaintiffs formed a work group comprising various types of providers, such as representatives from large healthcare systems, teaching hospitals, rural hospitals, physicians, ancillary providers, and medical and hospital associations which gave meaningful guidance throughout the process.

Key Contributors & Next Steps

Beasley Allen’s Dee Miles, along with Rebecca Gilliland and Jessi Haynes, played key roles in the discovery phase, uncovering critical documents and testimony that led to this landmark settlement.

The Court is expected to review the Motion for Preliminary Approval in November. A formal notice will be sent to all class members at a later date determined by the Court.