Sprint Persuades Judge to Reject Group Suit Over Taxes, Refunds

Sprint Nextel, the third-largest US mobile-phone company, won't face a nationwide class-action lawsuit over claims it overcharged data-card customers for taxes and refused to issue refunds. US District Judge Robert Bryan in Tacoma, Washington, concluded Sprint customers couldn't show that being allowed to press claims about wireless-network card charges as a group would insure the case would be handled efficiently. Consumers contend Sprint officials improperly tacked on taxes and surcharges to their bills. Consumers "have not proven that the benefits of adjudication of the plaintiffs' claims at one trial would outweigh the complexity of such a proceeding," Bryan wrote in his June 23 decision.