McAllen Medical Center, Inc. v. Cortez

Plaintiff brought this putative class action against a doctor and the hospital where he practiced, claiming that they had misrepresented the hospital’s cardiac surgeons’ qualifications. When the plaintiff settled with the doctor, the trial court certified a “settlement-only” plaintiff class, preliminarily approved the settlement, and scheduled a fairness hearing at which it would review and finalize both the certification and the settlement. See Tex.R. Civ. P. 42. The hospital attempted to appeal the trial court’s order, but the court of appeals dismissed the appeal. 17 S.W.3d 305. It held…