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James, Hoyer, Newcomer & Smiljanich, P.A. (James Hoyer) is a Tampa, Florida-based law firm that focuses on whistleblower (qui tam) cases as well as consumer class action lawsuits.〔(James Hoyer homepage )〕 The firm was founded in 1992 by former State Attorney for Hillsborough County Bill James, former federal prosecutors, and retired FBI agents.〔(Firm Biography from James Hoyer homepage )〕 Since its founding, James Hoyer has helped return more than $3 billion to consumers and taxpayers who were victims of fraud.〔(Practice Areas from James Hoyer homepage )〕 The St. Petersburg Times once called James Hoyer one of Tampa’s most successful law firms.〔(Kyle Parks, "Issues taking back seat to personality in election" ) ''St. Petersburg Times'' (October 23, 2000)〕 Members of the James Hoyer firm operate the (Consumer Warning Network ).〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.consumerwarningnetwork.com/ )〕 ==Notable Cases== In 1994, MetLife agreed to pay $42.75 million in refunds to 18,000 customers after James Hoyer, along with co-counsel, brought suit against the company for using misleading tactics to sell life insurance as a retirement or savings plan.〔(Michael Quint, "Taking on Insurance Giants" ). ''NY Times'' (July 19, 1995)〕 MetLife also agreed to pay a $20-million fine to insurance regulators across the country in relation to the lawsuit.〔 The 18,000 MetLife customers received an average of about $2,200 in refunds and interest, for a total payout by Met Life of $39,600,000. The attorney's fees paid by Met Life for the multi-year litigation, approved by the Court, was $2.75 million, according to the New York Times article.〔 Met Life also agreed to change the fraudulent practices it had been accused of.〔 In 2000, James Hoyer helped negotiate a $206 million class action settlement with insurer American General Corp., on behalf of thousands of African American customers who were systematically overcharged due to their race for small “burial” policies.〔(Ted Jackovics, "Florida Ratifies Restitution Plan for Burial Insurance Policyholders" ) ''Tampa Tribune'' (July 11, 2000)〕 In 2005, James Hoyer helped secure $52 million in new funding for Florida's elderly in nursing homes.〔("Tampa lawyers come to aid of Florida's seniors: pro bono efforts secure elders their rights under federal Medicaid law." ) Florida Bar News (August 1, 2005)〕 The firm fully funded all the costs of the litigation and donated all of the legal time.〔 James Hoyer received the Chair's Honor Award from the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar for the firm's efforts.〔 In 2006, James Hoyer helped secure a class action settlement in which Allstate Insurance Co. agreed to change the way it uses credit reports in setting auto and homeowners insurance policies.〔(Becky Yerak, "Allstate settles suit on credit score use" )〕 In 2008, James Hoyer was recognized by the Florida Bar for securing a $295,000 cy pres award for The Florida Bar Foundation.〔(Nancy Kinnally "Foundation benefits from cy pres award" ) ''The Florida Bar News'' (September 1, 2008)〕 The Florida Bar Foundation is the only statewide organization in Florida that provides funding for Legal Aid and promotes improvements in addressing the civil legal needs of the poor.〔("About Us" section from Florida Bar Foundation's homepage )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「James, Hoyer, Newcomer & Smiljanich, P.A.」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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