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Class action accuses Natera of misleading, overcharging customers for genetic tests

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Class action accuses Natera of misleading, overcharging customers for genetic tests

Lawsuits
Patricia i avery wolf popper llp

Patricia I. Avery | wolfpopper.com

Genetic testing company Natera has been hit with a class action lawsuit accusing it of overcharging customers by hundreds or thousands of dollars for tests they were allegedly promised would cost $249. 

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of named plaintiffs Elizabeth Copley and Rachel Calcaterra who are seeking to lead a class of additional plaintiffs that could include all persons in the U.S. who purchased a "Panorama," "Horizon," "Vistara," or "Spectrum" test performed by Natera and were then allegedly billed more than $249 for that test. 

The lawsuit was initially filed in November in San Mateo County Superior Court, but was removed by the defendants to San Francisco federal court on Dec. 8.

The suit alleges that despite Natera's promise that its tests would not exceed $249, the company routinely bills patients several hundred or even thousands of dollars. 

The list price for Natera’s tests can be up to $8,000 per test, a figure allegedly not revealed to patients in advance.

The lawsuit seeks a court order directing Natera to pay unspecified damages, including restitution, disgorgement and punitive damages, plus attorney fees. 

Plaintiffs are represented in the action by attorneys Joseph J. Tabacco, Jr., Kristin J. Moody and Alexander S. Vahdat, of the firm of Berman Tabacco, of San Francisco; and Patricia I. Avery and Philip M. Black, of Wolf Popper LLP, of New York.

 

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