LITTLE ROCK (Legal Newsline) — An Arkansas woman is suing bill collectors for health care providers, alleging unjust enrichment and deceptive business practices.
Tammy Hargett of Craighead County filed a class action lawsuit, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, July 7 in Circuit Court of Craighead County, Arkansas Civil District against RevClaims LLC, St Bernard's Hospital, Inc., St. Bernard's Community Hospital, Inc., Baptist.Health and John Does 1-100l, alleging violation of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
According to the complaint, Hargett was involved in a motor vehicle collision July 27, 2015. The suit says she suffered injuries and was transported to St. Bernard's in Jonesboro for treatment.
The lawsuit states she has been financially harmed for an amount for which she was improperly billed. The plaintiff alleges the defendants engaged in unconscionable and false deceptive acts and practices, made untrue statements of fact, refused to submit their bills for services provided to Medicaid for payment, insisted upon filing a lien in order to recover a fee in excess of what they legally entitled.
The plaintiff seeks trial by jury, certification for this lawsuit to proceed as a class action, awards for damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees, legal costs and all relief to which she is entitled. She is represented by Brandon W. Lacy of Wilcox & Lacey PLC in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
The defendant removed the case to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas on Aug. 9.
Circuit Court of Craighead County, Arkansas Civil District Case number 3:16-cv-00200