Court of Appeals Rules in Favor of UnitedHealth Group in Florida Class Action Lawsuit

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) announced today that the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, in a two-page opinion, unanimously upheld a summary judgment in favor of the Company in a class action suit filed by a group of physicians. The Appeals Court ruling affirms a favorable judgment in June 2006 by the Southern District Court of Florida dismissing all remaining claims against the company in the Shane v. Humana case.

Thomas L. Strickland, executive vice president and chief legal officer of UnitedHealth Group, said: We are pleased that this decision puts the Shane v. Humana class action claims behind us. This ruling affirms the Southern District Court of Florida’s finding in support of our position that there was no evidence of improper conduct by UnitedHealth Group. UnitedHealth Group looks forward to continuing to work collegially with physicians and their professional organizations to improve the quality of care delivery and to simplify health care administration.

Beginning in 1999, physicians and other medical providers filed a series of nationwide class action lawsuits against UnitedHealthcare and every other major health insurer. These cases were consolidated before Judge Moreno in the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division.