More auto parts manufacturers agreed to pay roughly $73 million to settle claims that they colluded to fix prices in the Auto Parts MDL Litigation pending in Michigan. The auto parts included bearings, automotive lamps and HID ballasts.
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. and several affiliates agreed to pay roughly $36 million to classes of consumers who purchased anti-vibrational rubber parts and constant velocity joint boot products, while Stanley Electric Co. Ltd. and affiliates agreed to pay about $15 million to classes of consumer who purchased automotive lamps and HID ballasts. SKF USA Inc. agreed to pay $7.6 million and NTN Corporation about $6.6 million to a class of consumers who purchased bearings. Sanden Automotive Components Corp. agreed to pay $7.6 million to a class of consumers who purchased air-conditioning systems.
This round of settlements is the latest in the MDL filed in the aftermath of the DOJ’s antitrust investigation into price-fixing and bid-rigging in the auto parts industry, a probe that was launched in 2011 in conjunction with Japanese and European authorities. Settlements awards to automobile owners and lessees now exceed $1 billion.
Stoll Berne filed 38 class actions relating to various parts on behalf of Oregon consumers.
The MDL is In re: Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, case number 2:13-cv-00803, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
This blog is intended to provide information to the general public and to practitioners about developments that may impact Oregon class actions.