Hop-On, Hop Off NYC Bus Tour Class Action Settlement

Coach USA Inc., International Bus Services, CitySights LLC and City Sights Twin LLC have reached a class action settlement over allegations they conspired to form a joint venture called Twin America which allowed them to fix the prices and reduce competition for the “hop-on, hop-off” bus tour business in New York City. If you purchased Gray Line or CitySights “hop-on, hop-off” bus tours in New York City from Feb. 1, 2009 until June 16, 2014, you could be eligible for a refund from the class action settlement.

Hop-on, hop off bus tours travel along a fixed route, allowing tourists to “hop off” at any of the stops to see particular attractions and then “hop on” another bus to continue the tour route on the same ticket. The tour bus class action lawsuit alleged that the defendants conspired to fix ticket prices for hop-on, hop-off tours, causing customers to pay an artificially inflated price for the tours.

The defendants deny the allegations but have agreed to settle the class action lawsuit to avoid the cost and risk of trial.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members of the NYC Bus Tour class action settlement include all persons or entities that purchased Gray Line or CitySights “hop-on, hop-off” bus tours in New York City from Feb. 1, 2009 until June 16, 2014.

Potential Award

Up to $20 per ticket. The actual amount of payment depends on the number of claims filed. If the total value of all approved claims is greater than the amount of money available to pay claims (after costs and fees have been deducted), eligible Class Members’ payments will be reduced proportionally.

Proof of Purchase

None required, if you are submitting claims for fewer than three NYC bus tour tickets. Note that the Administrator may require proof of purchase at a later date.

If you are submitting claims for three or more NYC bus tour tickets, you must submit proof of purchase with your Claim Form. Proof of purchase includes but is not limited to receipts, credit card statements or check images.

Claim Form

Claim Form Deadline

1/19/2015

Case Name

In re: NYC Bus Tour Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 13-cv-0711, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Final Hearing

10/20/2014

Settlement Website

www.TourBusSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

NYC Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour Settlement
P.O. Box 1902
Faribault, MN 55021-1935
1-866-431-9265

Class Counsel

William Christopher Carmody
Arun Subramanian
Mark Howard Hatch-Miller
Drew D. Hansen
SUSMAN GODFREY LLP

Defense Counsel

Thomas O. Barrett
Andrew D. Lazerow
Alan M. Wiseman
Ashley E. Bass
COVINGTON & BURLING LLP

UPDATE: The Settlement Administrator has posted the following update on the tour bus settlement website: “On September 21, 2015 the Court issued an order approving distribution of the Settlement funds to authorized Claimants. We expect distribution to begin mid October 2015.”

UPDATE 2: Checks for the tour bus class action settlement were mailed on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, 2015. Readers of Top Class Actions are reporting that they have received checks worth between $20 and $40 in the mail. Congratulations to everyone who submitted a valid claim and got paid!

UPDATE 3: The Settlement Administrator announced that final settlement checks were mailed on April 27, 2016.