Sony became the first defendant to settle claims in the multidistrict litigation (MDL) alleging that lithium-ion battery makers including Sony, Toshiba Corp., NEC Corp and LG Chem America and others, violated antitrust laws by fixing the prices of lithium-ion batteries sold to both direct purchasers and consumers.
The litigation was consolidated into an MDL in California federal court under U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in 2014.
Sony has asked the court for preliminary approval of a settlement with direct purchasers of its lithium-ion batteries for $19.5 million. A hearing to certify the consumer class is set for May 24, 2016.
In an earlier settlement agreement with direct purchasers of its lithium-ion batteries, Sony agreed to pay $19 million. Direct purchasers of Sony lithium-ion batteries include the now-closed electronic store, Circuit City, which purchased the product from January 2000 to May 2011. Judge Gonzalez Rogers certified a nationwide class in order for the company to organize the allocation of settlement funds.
The Case Is: In re: Lithium Ion Batteries Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 4:13-md-02420, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.