Law360, New York (May 21, 2010, 12:42 PM ET) -- Two new companion California Unfair Competition Law (“UCL”)[1] class action opinions provide further certainty in understanding Proposition 64’s standing requirements — Hale v. Sharp Healthcare[2] and Durell v. Sharp Healthcare.[3] Both cases involve patients who alleged Sharp Healthcare engaged in deceptive and unfair practices by billing uninsured patients its full rates for hospital services, when the hospital received substantially discounted rates from patients covered by private insurance or Medicare.

Sharp filed a demurrer to the complaints of both patients, on the ground that the complaints did...