Facts

Giles Combrisson, William Phillips, Patrick Hagemeister, and Ranell Hansen filed suit against the City and County of San Francisco, challenging and seeking relief for the "billing practices" of the City in connection with its provision of emergency services to insured patients at San Francisco General Hospital.

Plaintiffs contended that the City routinely charged emergency services patients amounts in excess of the amounts deemed reasonable by their health care plans and insurers. As a result, the health care plans and insurers would not fully reimburse Plaintiffs for the services rendered. The City then billed Plaintiffs for the remaining balance of the charges.

Plaintiffs argued that this practice violated the covenant of good faith and fair dealing implied in the contract that the City imposes on patients when they received emergency services.

Result

The parties settled for $320,000.