Sprint Corp., Level 3 Communications Inc., Leucadia National Corp., and Qwest Communications International Inc.
The telecommunication companies reached a settlement with numerous landowners covering right of way across the country in September 2002. Several landowners objected and fought the settlement in court. After several changes, a U.S. District Court judge in July 2003 approved a settlement. Again, some landowners objected. On appeal, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago rejected the lower court's approval of the settlement class, ruling the class action settlement was improperly approved by the federal trial court. And finally, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review whether a lower court properly overturned a $140 million class action settlement. (Jun-20-05) [WASHINGTON POST]
