Vincent and Liza Concepcion, who live in the San Diego area, were charged $30.22 in sales tax for what was promoted as a free cellphone. They tried to join a class-action suit against AT&T Mobility, but the company said the they would have to go to arbitration as individuals.

Their cellphone contract prohibited class-action claims, the company said. Judges in California —both federal and state —agreed with the Concepcions and ruled that the company could not enforce its ban on class-action claims. The Supreme Court reversed that decision in AT&T Mobility vs. Concepcion.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-court-class-action-20110428,0,4701430.story