Barnes Law Group Obtains Class Action Certification Status

Attorneys at the Barnes Law Group, LLC successfully obtained class action certification in another health insurance premium renewal case that affects more than 5,700 small business owners who purchased an Upper Midwest Employer Group IMP health insurance plan that was sold in the late 1990's by Fortis Benefits Insurance Company.

(PRWEB) November 14, 2008 -- Attorneys at the Barnes Law Group, LLC successfully obtained class action certification in another health insurance premium renewal case that affects more than 5,700 small business owners who purchased an Upper Midwest Employer Group IMP health insurance plan that was sold in the late 1990's by Fortis Benefits Insurance Company.

The class action lawsuit contends that the Upper Midwest Employer Group health insurance plan was sold and marketed as an affordable small business owner and employer-based health insurance product. However, renewals were treated like an individual plans that do not cap the amount of health insurance premiums that can be charged.

"They marketed and sold these plans as 'group' health coverage but then avoided the state law rate and premium caps by treating the policies as individual health insurance plans when it was time for renewal," says John Bevis, a Barnes Law Group, LLC attorney who represents the certified class action along with Former Governor Roy Barnes (D-Ga), who says that "by granting class action certification, the judge has helped small business owners Make It Right by leveling the playing field against big business practices designed to put profit over the requirements of law."

The plaintiffs were awarded class action certification against Assurant, Inc., Fortis Insurance Company, Fortis Benefits Insurance Company and Rogers Benefit Group. Defendants have taken advantage of a new tort-reform measure adopted by the Georgia General Assembly that allows an automatic appeal of any class action certification decisions. Barnes says he expects the appellate court to affirm the lower court's ruling. To read the class action certification order, see the attached PDF.

Barnes Law Group, located in Marietta, Georgia is a specialty litigation firm anchored by one of the nation's preeminent trial lawyers and Georgia's former Governor, Roy E. Barnes. The firm operates on a simple, yet extraordinarily powerful philosophy: make it right for those who have been wronged. Barnes Law Group specializes in Wrongful Death, Consumer Fraud, Personal Injury, Products Liability, Medical Malpractice, Nursing Home Abuse, and Class Action Litigation.

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