Auto parts makers will have to pay no less than $78 million following a settlement in Canadian price-fixing class actions.
This settlement thus closes 23 class actions “concerning allegations of illegal conspiracies to fix the price of auto parts installed in new motor vehicles”, indicated the law firms Siskinds LPP, Sotos LPP, Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman LPP ( CFM) and Siskinds Desmeules sencrl, specifying, however, that the defendants have admitted “no wrongful act or liability”.
It should also be noted that car manufacturers are not targeted by these actions since it is the parts manufacturers who would have set the price of the products.
“Conspiracies to fix prices are prohibited under the Competition Act. These conspiracies are detrimental to the Canadian market because they lead businesses and consumers to overpay for goods and services,” David Jones, a partner at CFM in Vancouver, said in a statement.
Thus, persons and companies who have purchased or leased a new vehicle from among the brands covered by the proceedings between 1er July 1998 and September 30, 2016 are eligible for compensation. To claim it, simply go to autopartsettlement.ca before October 30.
“Auto parts class action is big business and we are proud to have recovered a significant amount of money for consumers and businesses across Canada,” says Karim Diallo, Counsel at Siskinds Desmeules in Quebec.
Here are the trademarks targeted by the class action lawsuits:
• Aston Martin
• BMW/Mini Cooper
•Chrysler/Dodge/Fiat/Jeep/Ram
• Ford/Lincoln/Mercury
• General Motors (Buick/Cadillac/Chevrolet/Daewoo/GMC/Hummer/Isuzu/Oldsmobile/Pontiac/Saab/Saturn)
• Honda/Acura
• Jaguar/Land Rover
• Mazda
• Nissan/Infiniti
• Subaru
• Toyota/Lexus
• Volkswagen/Audi/Porsche, and Volvo (the “Car Manufacturers”)