NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
To all persons and entities who, at any time between September 10, 2008 and June 5, 2014, requested, and paid for, medical records from United Hospital Center, Inc.
A proposed class action settlement has been reached with United Hospital Center, Inc. (“Defendant”), regarding medical records requests between September 10, 2008 and June 5, 2014. The settlement resolves a lawsuit entitled Steven Richards, et al. v. United Hospital Center, Inc., Civil Action No. CC-31-2013-C-978 (the “Lawsuit”), West Virginia Circuit Court of Monongalia County, West Virginia (the “Court”). The Court authorized this notice.
You can find a summary of the Settlement below. More details about the Settlement, including answers to frequently asked questions, and other information about the Lawsuit, can be found at this Settlement Website (www.UHCMedicalRecordsOvercharge.com) under the Important Documents and FAQs Tabs.
If you are a member of the Class and requested in writing, and paid for medical records from September 10, 2008 through June 5, 2014, from United Hospital Center, Inc., you may be eligible to receive a reimbursement of a flat payment of $100.00, or if you submit actual documentary evidence of charges in excess of $100.00, then you may recover that amount minus $2.08. The available settlement fund is $600,000. In the unlikely event that more than $600,000 is claimed, then Claimants with proof of payment shall be paid first at full value, then claimants without actual proof of payment shall be paid a pro rata share of the $100.00 flat payment.
You have the right to object to the settlement. Your objection must be received by November 30, 2026. For details on how to object, answers to frequently asked questions, and other information about the Lawsuit, see the Important Documents Tab and the FAQs Tab.
You have the right to opt out of the settlement. Your opt-out request must be received by October 29, 2026. For details on how to opt-out, answers to frequently asked questions, and other information about the Lawsuit, see the Important Documents Tab and the FAQs Tab.
The Court will hold a final approval hearing on January 13, 2027, at 11:00 A.M. EST to consider whether to approve the settlement. Class Counsel will ask the Court to award them $260,000 in Attorneys’ Fees and an incentive award to the individual who started the Lawsuit. These funds are in addition to the amounts available for reimbursement of medical record request payments. You may appear at the hearing, but you do not have to.
All available information regarding claims processing is available in the Order Granting Joint Motion for Certification of Settlement Class and Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement and the Order Amending Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement. This Settlement is not yet finalized. The Final Approval Hearing will be held on January 13, 2027. As such, the calculation of each Class member’s final overcharge payment cannot yet be finalized. When additional information becomes available, it will be posted to this Settlement Website. Please check this Settlement Website periodically or contact the Settlement Administrator or Class Counsel for updates.
Please read to learn your rights.
- This notice concerns a case called Steven Richards, et al. v. United Hospital Center, Inc., Civil Action No. CC-31-2013-C978, pending in the West Virginia Circuit Court of Monongalia County, West Virginia.
- This class action Settlement will resolve a lawsuit against United Hospital Center, Inc. (the “Defendant”) pertaining to medical records requests and payments between September 10, 2008 and June 5, 2014. The lawsuit settlement affects all persons and entities who, at any time between September 10, 2008 and June 5, 2014, requested, and paid for, medical records from United Hospital Center.
- Defendant denies any wrongdoing. Defendant contends that it complied with the law in all respects and at all times.
- To settle the case, Defendant has agreed to pay $600,000 to settle claims submitted by members of the Class. This amount does not include attorney fees or claim administration costs. Class payments will be made by Defendant’s insurer, after proper submission of claims by Class members and the approval of the claim by the administrator. The Claims Administrator’s costs for settlement administration will also be paid by the Defendant’s insurer, but will not be taken out of the $600,000 set aside for payment of claims. However, if the amount of the payable claims is less than $400,000, then remaining funds, up to the amount of $400,000, may be used by the Defendant’s Insurer to pay the Claims Administration costs.
- The lawyers who brought this lawsuit (“Class Counsel”) will ask the Court to award them $260,000 in attorneys’ fees separate from this settlement amount. Again, this will not be taken out of the $600,000 set aside for payment of claims.
- Class Counsel will not seek reimbursement of case expenses.
- Your legal rights are affected whether or not you act. Read this notice carefully.
This Notice summarizes the proposed Settlement. For the precise terms and conditions of the Settlement, please see the Order Granting Joint Motion for Certification of Settlement Class and Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement, available under the Important Documents Tab of this Settlement Website, or contact the Claims Administrator at 501 Riverchase Parkway East, Suite 100, Hoover, AL 35244 or by telephone at (855) 711-2079.
| YOUR RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT | DEADLINE | |
| Review & Submit a Claim Form | If you requested in writing and paid for medical records, you must submit a Claim Form to receive a cash payment. Click the following link to access the Claim Form. | *May 3, 2027 |
| Exclude Yourself From the Class | You will not get any benefits under this Settlement. This is the only option that allows you to be part of any other lawsuit or proceeding in arbitration against the Settling Defendant about the legal claims in this case. Please See the FAQs Tab Q.8 for the Opt-Out Form instructions. | *October 29, 2026 |
| Object to the Settlement | Tell the Court about why you don’t like the Settlement. | *November 30, 2026 |
| Go to a Hearing On January 13, 2027 | If you timely submitted a written objection, you may ask to speak in Court about the Settlement. | *January 13, 2027 |
| Do Nothing | Get no benefits. Give up rights to part of any other lawsuit against the Defendants about the legal claims in this case. | |
| * These deadlines may be extended for good cause, without further direct notice to you. All such changes to the deadlines will be posted to this Settlement Website at www.UHCMedical RecordsOvercharge.com. Please continue to check this Settlement Website for updates. | ||
- For more information on your rights and options in this Settlement, including how to file a claim, an objection or an opt-out form, please visit the FAQs Tab.
- These rights and options—and deadlines to exercise them—are explained herein, and more information can be found under the Important Documents and FAQs Tabs.
- Final Approval Hearing: On January 13, 2027, the Court will hold a hearing to determine: (1) whether the Settlement should be finally approved as fair, reasonable, and adequate; and (2) whether to grant Class Counsel’s application for Attorneys’ Fees and/or the Class Representatives incentive award. The hearing will be held in the Circuit Court of Monongalia County, West Virginia, before the Honorable Perri Jo DeChristopher, at 11:00 AM EST, or such other 302901
- judge assigned by the Court. This hearing date may change without further direct notice to you. Consult this Settlement Website at www.UHCMedical RecordsOvercharge.com.
Please do not address any questions about the Settlement or Litigation to the Clerk of Court or the Judge.