WASHINGTON-A Colorado judge approved a multimillion-dollar settlement of a class-action billing suit against AT&T Wireless Services Inc., which last week Cingular Wireless L.L.C. acquired for $41 billion.
The suit alleged AT&T Wireless customers on the Digital One Rate prior to March 1, 1999, were wrongly charged for roaming calls made in one month but subsequently billed for in another month as a result of delayed reporting between carriers. The plaintiffs argued the billing practice was a breach of contract.
Under the settlement, some subscribers are entitled to extra airtime, a 20-percent discount coupon for wireless accessories or a calling card-compensation averaging about $10.50 per subscriber. Other subscribers receive a benefit worth $3.
AT&T Wireless, which denied any wrongdoing, agreed to pay up to $3 million in attorneys fees and $750,000 in expenses.
Ronald Wilcox, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, said the settlement could end up totaling $10 million.
