Automotive Dealer Parts Class Action Settlement

A massive class action settlement involving at least 10 automotive parts manufacturers is affecting car dealerships across the country. The settlements resolve allegations that the companies conspired together to fix, raise and maintain the prices of certain component vehicle parts, which caused dealers to pay more when purchasing certain vehicles.

If your dealership purchased a vehicle containing one of the affected parts listed below, you may be eligible to claim a cash award of $350 or more from the multi-million dollar settlements.

The settlements are part of an ongoing antitrust litigation involving separate class action lawsuits within the lead case known as In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation.

The separate class action lawsuits claim that the defendants in each case engaged in unlawful agreements that had the effect of impacting the price of certain vehicle component parts. The lawsuits claim that, as a result of the relevant defendants’ conduct, dealers paid more than they should have for the parts at issue and paid more for the vehicles in which those parts are contained. The lawsuits also allege that dealers were unable to pass on all of these increased costs to their customers.

Many of the settling defendants have already paid millions of dollars each in fines to the U.S. government for their alleged role in the price-fixing scheme.

The Justice Department’s probe into price-fixing in the automotive parts industry has turned into the largest criminal antitrust investigation ever conducted by the agency. The investigation was announced four years ago and has led to criminal charges against dozens of companies throughout the world, resulting in billions of dollars in criminal fines paid to the U.S. government.

The Settling Defendants are: Nippon Seiki, Lear, KL Sales, TRW, Autoliv, Yazaki, Panasonic, HIAMS, T.RAD, and Fujikura.

There are other defendants who have not settled.  These are the first settlements preliminarily approved by the Court in the actions brought by the Dealership Plaintiffs on behalf of themselves and other dealers. The cases continue against the other defendants who have not settled (“Non-Settling Defendants).

NOTE: Consumers who purchased or leased a new motor vehicle or bought certain replacement parts in the United States since 2000 may be entitled to compensation from a separate auto parts price-fixing class action settlement.

UPDATE: The Claim Filing deadline has been extended to May 15, 2016.

Who’s Eligible

The automotive parts settlement may benefit dealers who, during the relevant time periods, purchased a vehicle containing, or purchased one or more of the following parts manufactured by one or more of the settling defendants and/or their predecessors, subsidiaries and affiliates or those alleged to be their co-conspirators:

• Instrument Panel Clusters
• Automotive Wire Harness Systems
• Occupant Safety Restraint Systems
• Instrument Panel Clusters
• Fuel Senders, Switches
• SAS
• HID Ballasts
• Starters Alternators
• Air Flow Meters
• Valve Timing Control Devices
• Fuel Injection Systems
• Electronic Throttle Bodies
• Ignition Coils
• Inverters
• Motor Generators
• Radiators
• ATF Warmers

You can make a claim for a cash award if your dealership indirectly purchased these parts and/or vehicles for resale containing affected parts in the District of Columbia or one or more of the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

A detailed description of the various Settlement Classes can be found in the Settlement Notice.

Potential Award

At least $350. It is expected that each Settlement Class Member who purchased new affected vehicles or any of the affected component parts in the Included States and who files a valid Proof of Claim will receive a minimum payment of $350.00 under these Settlements.

Proof of Purchase

You will be required to submit a Proof of Claim.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

Claim Form Deadline

05/15/2016 (New Deadline)

Case Name

In re: Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 2:12-md-02311, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Final Hearing

11/18/2015

Settlement Website

www.autodealersettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Auto Parts Antitrust Matter
c/o Gilardi & Co. LLC
P.O. Box 8060
San Rafael, CA 94912-8060

Toll-free: 1-888-565-3171

Class Counsel

The Court has appointed the law firms of Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP, Larson • King, LLP, and Barrett Law Group, P.A. as interim class counsel (“Class Counsel”) in these lawsuits to represent your dealership and all other members of the Settlement Classes.

The Court also appointed Mantese Honigman, PC as Liaison Counsel for Dealers. Other law firms, including Thrash Law Firm, PA and Lovelace Law Firm, PA, are representing Dealers.

Your dealership will not be charged directly by these lawyers, and any fees that they are paid will come from any settlements or recovery in these lawsuits.  If your dealership wants to be represented by its own lawyer, it may hire one at its own expense.

Defense Counsel

N/A