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Plaintiffs in an automotive wire harness antitrust class action lawsuit have secured settlements from five defendants worth more than $249 million.
This action is a consolidation of antitrust lawsuits, first filed in 2011, that raise allegations of price-fixing against the manufacturers of automotive wire harnesses. The plaintiffs are companies that purchase wire harnesses and related products directly from the defendant manufacturers.
Wire harnesses are bundled connectors used to connect a vehicle’s electronic components. This settlement covers purchasers of wire harnesses and of related “wire harness products,” which for purposes of the settlement include the following automotive components:
- Automotive electrical wiring
- Lead wire assemblies
- Cable bond
- Automotive wiring connectors
- Automotive wiring terminals
- High voltage wiring
- Electronic control units
- Fuse boxes
- Relay boxes
- Junction blocks
- Power distributors
- Speed sensor wire assemblies
According to the plaintiffs, the defendant companies conspired to artificially prop up prices for their wire harnesses, in violation of federal antitrust laws. They allegedly agreed with each other to rig bids and to fix or raise prices. As a result of this alleged collusion, plaintiffs say they were made to pay more for wire harnesses than they should have had to under normal market conditions.
The settling parties began administering the current wire harness class action settlement following a May 5 order by U.S. Marianne O. Battani. A final approval hearing was scheduled for August 8.
The settlement resolves claims against five of the defendants: Chiyoda, Fujikura, Leoni, Sumimoto and Yazaki. Each defendant has agreed to create its own settlement fund for distribution to qualifying Class Members. Total funds committed from all five defendants exceed $249 million.
After covering attorneys’ fees, litigation expenses, and costs of settlement administration, these settlement funds will be distributed among qualifying Class Members who submit valid and timely claims. To receive benefits, Class Members must fill out and submit a hard-copy Claim Form via mail to the settlement administrator.
The settlement benefits persons and entities who made their purchases directly from the settling defendants. It does not cover any other type of purchaser.
Each of the settling defendants continues to deny the plaintiffs’ allegations. Defendants say they have entered into this wire harness class action settlement solely to avoid the expense and risk of further litigation.
Other defendants in the wire harness antitrust class action –G.S. Electech, Tokai Rika, and Lear – resolved the claims against them in a previous settlement. Other defendants in this litigation have not settled, and the plaintiffs continue to prosecute their claims against them.
The deadline to opt out of this settlement has passed.
Who’s Eligible
Generally, the settlement covers persons and entities who purchased wire harness products within the United States directly from one of the defendants between Jan. 1, 2000 and Dec. 13, 2016.
The settlement defines specific Classes for each of the five settling defendants. Members of the Chiyoda and Fujikura settlement Classes must have made their purchases between Jan. 1, 2000 and May 5, 2014. Members of the Leoni, Sumimoto and Yazaki Classes must have made their purchases between Jan. 1, 2000 and Dec. 13, 2016.
The Fujikura settlement Class excludes persons and entities who commenced an action against Fujikura prior to the execution date included in the MDL litigation.
Potential Award
Varies.
Payment amounts will be determined in part by the number of valid and timely claims received. The $249 million settlement fund will be distributed pro rata to all Class Members based upon their purchases.
Proof of Purchase
The Claim Form requires Class Members to list the records they used to calculate their claimed purchases. Claims may be subject to auditing by the settlement administrator.
The Substitute Form W-9 requires either a Social Security number or a federal tax ID number.
Claim Form Deadline
9/15/2017
Case Name
In re: Wire Harness Cases and In re: Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 12-md-02311, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
This action consolidates Case Nos. 2:12-cv-00101-MOB-MKM and 2:14-cv-13773-MOB-MKM.
Final Hearing
8/8/2017
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
Wire Harness Direct Purchaser Antitrust Litigation
c/o Epiq Systems Inc.
P.O. Box 5110
Portland, OR 97208-5110
877-845-2749
Class Counsel
Steven A. Kanner
FREED KANNER LONDON & MILLEN LLC
Gregory P. Hansel
PRETI FLAHERTY BELIVEAU & PACHIOS LLP
Joseph C. Kohn
KOHN SWIFT & GRAF PC
Eugene A. Spector
SPECTOR ROSEMAN KODROFF & WILLIS PC
Defense Counsel
Counsel for Chiyoda:
Michael Martinez
K&L GATES LLP
Counsel for Fujikura:
James L. Cooper
ARNOLD & PORTER LLP
Counsel for Leoni:
Michael F. Tubach
O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP
Counsel for Sumimoto:
Marguerite M. Sullivan
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
Counsel for Yazaki:
John M. Majoras
JONES DAY
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