Class action nets group of top wireless carriers for texting, other charges

Another day, another class-action wireless consumer lawsuit. This one is big, though, naming six mobile-phone carriers and a top mobile virtual network operator as defendants in a complaint filed in Mississippi federal court.
“This action seeks recovery for actual and compensatory damages sustained by plaintiffs and others similarly situated. At this time, plaintiffs are specifically seeking recovery against the defendants for unauthorized charges, wrongful collections and unjust enrichment,” the stated the 12-page suit filed by attorneys with the Graves Law Offices P.L.L.C. in Jackson, Miss.
The allegations, among other things, focus on charges for unsolicited text messages received by subscribers “without offering its customers the opportunity to avoid such charges by opting out of text messaging and refusing to disable its customers’ text messaging service.”
The suit targets AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel Corp., Verizon [Communications] Inc., Alltel Corp., U.S. Cellular Corp., Cellular South Inc. and Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C.
Several of the wireless companies that were contacted said they had not seen the suit, or do not comment on pending litigation.
Class-action suits asserting unauthorized charges by wireless carriers and/or third-party mobile content providers appear to be on the rise.
Yesterday, RCR Wireless News reported on a class-action cramming suit filed against T-Mobile USA Inc..
Similar suits have been lodged against Sprint Nextel Corp., Alltel Corp. and Verizon Wireless.