Google hit with Stern legal action

Google is facing yet another legal tussle, according to the blogosphere. This time, it's a class action lawsuit from attorneys representing a Howard Stern from New Jersey and others that claim Google allegedly over-billed for advertisements, according to the Web site Marketingvox.

The lawsuit, filed last week in Santa Clara Superior Court in California, centers on Google's AdWords, its automated auction system for search-related ads, and the company's pledge to cap daily budgets if advertisers so choose. In the lawsuit, Stern and CLRB Hanson Industries, a Minnesota industrial printing firm, charge that Google broke this promise, according to the report.

No, it doesn't appear that the plaintiff is radio shock jock Stern. CORRECTION: Alas, an earlier version of this blog item mistakenly said that it was that Stern, as one online ad watcher pointed out.

The suit asks for all charges in excess of the daily budget to be disgorged. Google did not respond to a request for comment. (Google representatives have instituted a policy of not talking with CNET News.com reporters until July 2006 in response to privacy issues raised by a previous story.)