$11M Calsonic Auto Parts Price-Fixing Settlement Gets Green Light

Japanese auto parts makers Calsonic Kansei Corp. and CalsonicKansei North America Inc. have agreed to pay $11.12 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing it of conspiring to fix the prices of auto parts.

On Feb. 27, U.S. District Judge Marianne O. Battani preliminarily approved the Calsonic class action settlement, bringing the total value of settlements in the auto parts multidistrict litigation to more than $1 billion.

“The Court finds that the Settlement Agreement was entered into at arm’s length by experienced counsel and is sufficiently within the range of reasonableness that notice of the Settlement Agreement should be given,” Judge Battani wrote in her preliminary approval order.

The Michigan federal judge also certified three Classes of persons and entities who purchased or leased a new vehicle in the United States that included one or more radiators since Feb. 1, 2001, automatic transmission fluid warmers and oil coolers since Nov. 1, 2002, and air conditioning systems since May 1, 1999, or purchased them as a replacement part for their vehicle.

In addition to providing cash benefits to eligible Class Members, Calsonic has also agreed to cooperate with the end-payor plaintiffs to assist in the litigation against the non-settling defendants.

The auto parts price-fixing litigation was initiated following a global criminal antitrust investigation into allegations that automotive parts manufacturers conspired to rig bids and fix the prices of their products.

More than 160 defendants have been named in the dozens of coordinated auto parts price-fixing class action lawsuits, which have been consolidated in Michigan federal court as In re: Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation.

The plaintiffs allege that they purchased or leased new automobiles at prices that were inflated due to the defendants’ price-fixing conspiracy.

The Calsonic class action settlement is part of the third round of auto parts price-fixing settlements. More information about the first two rounds of auto parts price fixing class action settlements are available on our open settlement page, or you can visit www.AutoPartsClass.com for updates.

“The settlements achieved to date represent a tremendous victory for the victims of the alleged conspiracies, which were obtained after years of hard fought litigation,” Marc M. Seltzer of Susman Godfrey LLP said of the auto parts price-fixing class action settlements. “Our job, however, is not done, and we intend to continue to fight on behalf of our class members who were injured as a result of defendants’ alleged decades-long price-fixing conspiracies.”

Top Class Actions will post updates to this class action settlement as they become available. For the latest updates, keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter. You can also receive notifications when this article is updated by using your free Top Class Actions account and clicking the “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.

The plaintiffs are represented by Adam J. Zapala and Elizabeth T. Castillo of Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy LLP; Hollis Salzman, Bernard Persky and William V. Reiss of Robins Kaplan LLP and by Marc M. Seltzer, Steven G. Sklaver, Terrell W. Oxford, Chanler Langham and Omar Ochoa of Susman Godfrey LLP.

The Auto Parts Price-Fixing Class Action Lawsuits are In re: Air Conditioning Systems End-Payor Actions, Case No. 2:13-cv-02703, and In re: Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 2:12-md-02311, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.