John Black and Freed & Weiss are currently prosecuting a class action against Western Union for uncompleted money transfers. According to John Black, the proposed class action filed by Freed & Weiss seeks to represent “persons who attempted to transfer money using Western Union, whose money transfers were unredeemed, and who were never told by Western Union that the money transfers they paid to have sent were unredeemed.” In other words, John Black explains that money transfers with Western Union never went through and neither the sender of the money nor the customer who was to receive it was ever contacted by Western Union to notify them that the transfer failed.
John Black alleges that Western Union’s actions violate several state consumer protection laws. As well, adds John Black, the conduct constitutes fraud under various consumer protection laws. In addition, says John Black, this practice is of basic offense to public policy.
According to John Black, contacting a customer who remained unaware of the failed wire transfer is not a difficult step for Western Union. “When a customer attempts to transfer money via Western Union,” points out John Black, “the customer gives their contact information.” A follow-up notice and refund, says John Black, should be the only choice for the defendant. Instead, alleges John Black, the company does not contact the customer until individual state unclaimed property laws require such contact. Western Union holds the money from the failed transfer and makes use of it. “In most cases, by the time a customer becomes aware of the failed transfer,” adds John Black, “several years have gone by, and in some instances it is too late for the customer to redeem the money directly from Western Union.”
John Black explains the story of one of the lead plaintiffs in this case. The plaintiff is a gentleman who sent money to the country of Vietnam. The money, according to John Black, was to help pay a friend’s hospital bills. After six years, relates John Black, Western Union contacted the client stating that the transfer failed and the funds had never reached Vietnam. “After filling out the required paperwork,” John Black continues, “our client not only did not receive his money back in full, but Western Union charged him a fee for holding the money and kept all interest that the money had earned while in Western Union’s coffers.” The plaintiff in the case, says John Black, was informed that he was responsible for an administrative fee.
“Not only is this unacceptable,” concludes John Black, “it is really unbelievable!” John Black said that Freed & Weiss has filed suit against Western Union in the United States District Court of Colorado (Denver). The Court has recently denied Western Union’s motion to dismiss the case. Recently, said John Black, United States District Judge John Kane appointed Freed & Weiss as Interim Class Counsel pursuant to Federal Rule 23(g).
On behalf of clients, John Black’ firm is seeking both money damages and declaratory relief barring Western Union from holding unredeemed money longer than sixty days. “Corporate enrichment has taken place at the cost of many,” asserts John Black, “which is unjust.”
If you sent a failed money transfer through Western Union, and Western Union never returned the money or waited several years to return the money, you are invited to contact Freed & Weiss for assistance at or toll free (866) 779-9610.
About John Black
John Black believes that companies have the obligation to treat fairly, serve and protect their customers. When they do not, John Black has served successfully as a voice for those who have been wronged. A founding partner of Freed & Weiss, John Black has been lead and co-lead counsel on many high profile class action suits totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements for clients.
Educated at Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington, John Black was a member of the Indiana Law Journal and the honorary society of the Order of COIF, graduating magna cum laude. As a member of the Northern District Trial Bar, John Black is admitted to general legal practice in the State of Illinois, United States District Courts for Northern and Southern Illinois and United States District Court of Eastern Michigan. As well, John Black has been admitted to practice pro hac vice in several federal courts including New Jersey, Idaho, New Mexico, California, and Florida. Considered an expert in the field, John Black has litigated numerous class action suits in state and federal courts.
The published opinions of John Black are too numerous to enumerate. Included in the list are Harper v. LG Electronics USA, Inc., Waudby v. Verizon Wireless Services LLC, Kinkel v. Cingular Wireless, Carey v. Kerr McGee Chemical Company and Pella Corp. v. Saltzman. Under the leadership of John Black, Freed & Weiss have recovered over $230 million dollars for clients in class action and MDL litigation. Many of theses cases included Fortune 500 companies with names such as Best Buy, AOL, Chase and Verizon.
John Black and Freed & Weiss have been the forefront leaders of raising awareness concerning fraudulent reimbursement practices of insurance companies. Through the means of class action, John Black obtained millions of dollars in relief for clients of auto insurers. As well, under the oversight of John Black, Freed & Weiss have fought to protect medical providers against fraudulent out of network reductions. Dedicated to the interests of medical professionals and their ability to provide quality healthcare, John Black continues with pending litigation against Aetna, Cigna, and WellPoint.
The April 2003 edition of National Law Journal featured John Black in their article, “Class Actions: The Battle Heats Up.” The National Law Journal published a sequel to the April article with another feature on the topic of Illinois class action suits. John Black has been an honored guest lecturer at Chicago-Kent College of Law and the Chicago School of Law at Loyola University.
Prior to being a founding partner of Freed & Weiss, John Black practiced law in Seattle, Washington. While working in Seattle, for then Hagens & Berman, his exclusive focus was on plaintiff consumer class action cases.
John Black resides with his wife of 13 years, Jamie. In addition to being a husband, and father of two boys, he enjoys traveling, snorkeling, gardening, photography (many of his photos can be viewed at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/paul-weiss.html) and arcade gaming.
To contact John Black at Freed & Weiss, or to speak with an attorney at Freed & Weiss, visit their website online at or call 866-779-9610.
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