Newspaper Page Text
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Don't worry, keep walking
Recent diabetes studies aside, exercise is still key to treating the disease.
ITS BEEN SAID of doctors that we may
not always be right but we’re never
uncertain. Nothing illustrates this better
than a couple of recent articles in the New
LEGAL NOTICE
If AT&T billed you a $3.95 monthly recurring charge any time from
January 2004, and you have not been an AT&T customer since August 2001,
you could get payment from a proposed class action settlement.
Para una notification en Espanol. Ilamar o visitar nuestro website.
A class action settlement has been proposed in a
lawsuit concerning a 53.95 monthly recurring charge for
pre-subscribed residential long-distance service under
AT&T's Basic Rate Plan.
The United States District Court for the Southern
District of Illinois authorized this notice.
WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT?
You are a class member if AT&T billed you a
$3.95 monthly recurring charge for pre-subscribed
residential long-distance service under AT&T's Basic
Rate Plan beginning January 1, 2004. paid the charges,
didn’t receive a credit or refund, and didn't use AT&T
telephone services any time on or after August I. 2001.
Excluded from the class are (a) AT&T and its parent
companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, successors-in
interest successors, predecessors-in-interest. predecessors,
assigns, agents, employees, affiliated independent
contractors, managers, officers, directors, attorneys,
and other persons representing them or acting on their
behalf: (b) people that AT&T hi evidence of authorization
of carrier change to become an AT&T subscriber, on
or after August 1. 2001; (c) any judge to whom the
lawsuit is assigned and his or her immediate family; and
(d) all persons who submit valid exclusion requests.
WHAT IS THE LAWSUIT ABOUT?
The lawsuit concerns a 53.95 monthly recurring charge
for pre-subscribed residential long-distance service billed
under AT&T’s Basic Rate Plan. The lawsuit alleges
that, beginning January 2004. AT&T billed the charge,
related charges, fees, and taxes (all referred together as
“$3.95 MRC”) to hundreds of thousands of people listed
in AT&T’s database as residential long-distance customers
but who Plaintiffs contend were not AT&T customers.
AT&T denies any wrongdoing. The Court has not made
a decision in this case. Both sides agreed to settle and
deliver benefits to class members.
WHAT DOES THE SETTLEMENT PROVIDE?
AT&T has agreed to pay all valid claims submitted
by class members. AT&T agreed to relieve any debts
owed for the $3.95 MRC. It also agreed to use all
necessary and reasonable efforts to ensure that credit
reporting agencies remove any adverse notation relating
to the $3.95 MRC. The Stipulation of Settlemenf.
available at www.MßCSettlement.com. provides details
about the proposed settlement.
1-800-765-8148 www.MßCSettlement.com
By DR. TEDD MITCHELL
Please Do Not Contact The Court For Information.
Smart
England Journal of Medicine. Both articles
deal with diabetes, a topic of great concern to
millions of Americans. Both present results
from large studies designed to investigate
HOW DO I ASK FOR A PAYMENT?
To request payment, you must fill out a claim form
online at www.MßCSettiement.com no later than
January 31. 2009. or mail a claim form to Stokes et al.
v. AT&T, do The Garden City Group. Inc., P.O.
Box 9289, Dublin, OH 4301 postmarked no later
than January 31. 2009. The claim form and full notice
describing the claims procedure are available at
www.MßCSettlement.com. You can also obtain a claim
form and full notice by calling toll-free 1-800-765-8148
To submit a claim form, you must certify that you were
billed the 53.95 MRC. paid the charges, and didn't receive
a refund or credit. If you submit a valid claim. AT&T will
pay between SlO and $ 150. depending on: (1) whether the
charges for the $3.95 MRC appeared in a bill received
from your local telephone company or directly from
AT&T; (2) the number of months you were billed and paid
the $3.95 MRC; and (3) the level of supporting documents
submitted with your claim.
WHAT ARE MY OTHER OPTIONS?
If you do not want to be legally bound by the settlement,
you must mail a written request for exclusion, postmarked
no later than August 22, 2008 to Stokes et al. v. AT&T,
do The Garden City Group, Inc.. P.O. Box 9289, Dublin.
OH 43017-4689. if you do not exclude yourself, you will
be bound by the Court judgment if the settlement is
approved, and you will not be able to bring, continue, or be
part of a lawsuit concerning the 53.95 MRC. If you exclude
yourself, you will not receive payment from this settlement.
If you remain in the class, you may mail comments in
support of or in opposition to the settlement, postmarked
no later than August 22. 2008. The full notice is available
at www.MßCSettlement.com and describes the
procedures for excluding yourself or submitting comments.
On September 4. 2008. at 9:30 a.m.. the Court will
hold a hearing to determine whether the proposed
settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate, and to
consider fees for attorneys representing the class
(Girard Gibbs LLP) for $2,170,000 and expense
reimbursement for $250,000. Awarding attorneys' fees
and expenses will not reduce the amount available to class
members. You may ask to appear and speak at the
hearing, but it is not required. The Court must approve the
settlement, and the claims process must be complete
before money can be paid to class members. For more
information, please visit www.MßCSettlement.cum
or call toll-free 1-800-765-8148.
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sugar treatment was associated with a 21% reduced risk of
developing kidney disease, says the Action in Diabetes and
Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Re
lease Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) trial.
■ But on the other hand, aggressive blood sugar control
not only didn’t help lower the risk of heart complications
from diabetes, it also may have raised the risk of death, re
ports the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Dia
betes Study Group (ACCORD) trial.
So what is the average person supposed to do? In situa
tions like this, the most prudent course of action is to take
care of yourself. Let science hash out the meaning of stud
ies like these, but don’t wait to improve your own health.
ONE OF NATURE’S most effective tools to help your
body deal with diabetes is available to all but used
by too few. It offers medicinal value greater than many
drugs, improves other risks that often accompany diabetes
(high blood pressure, high triglycerides, excess body fat),
costs little and betters quality of life. The tool? Exercise.
Its benefits for the human body are undeniable. Every
sound treatment program for diabetes includes exercise.
And while a commitment is necessary, the key to success is
not the intensity of your activity, but the consistency of
your routine. In fact, you are much better off following a
routine of moderate activity on a regular basis than you
are “knocking yourself out” infrequently or sporadically.
Of course, like other doctors, I may not always be right,
but I’m never uncertain. So don’t just take my word for it.
The American Diabetes Association’s website at diabetes
.org has more information on the role exercise plays in help
ing to control diabetes, as well as tips for getting started, d
Contributing Editor Tedd Mitchell, M.D, president of Dallas'
Coojter Clinic, writes Healths mart every iveek.
8
USA WEEKEND • July 11-13, 2008
Consistent
exercise is
crucial to
controlling
diabetes.
whether aggres
sively lowering
blood sugar im
proves health.
■ On one hand,
aggressive blood