Settlements continue in alleged auto parts conspiracy.

Byline: Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff

This case involves an alleged conspiracy among some of the automotive industry's largest manufacturers and suppliers of automotive parts. Plaintiffs' counsel represents consumers who purchased or leased a new vehicle which included one or more of the parts at issue (the "end payor class"). Plaintiffs allege that defendants agreed, during meetings and conversations, to sell certain automotive parts at noncompetitive prices to automobile manufacturers in the United States and elsewhere.

The United States Department of Justice ("DOJ") and the Japanese Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC"), among other international law enforcement bodies, have been investigating these conspiracies in the market for automotive parts since at least February 2011, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") has participated in raids, and executed search warrants, in some of defendants' offices.

In 2015, the end payor plaintiffs entered into settlements with various defendants totaling $116,394,000. In 2016, the end payor plaintiffs entered into settlements with various defendants totaling $550,086,258. In 2017, the end payor plaintiffs entered into settlements with various defendants totaling $289,271,200.

The following settlements were approved by the U.S. District Court in 2018:

$15,200,000 settlement by Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. (and affiliated entities)

$12,730,000 settlement by NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. and NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), Inc.

$11,121,840 settlement by Calsonic Kansei Corporation and CalsonicKansei North America, Inc.

$7,600,000 settlement by Sanden Automotive Components Corporation (and affiliated entities)

$5,320,000 settlement by Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd. and Usui International Corporation

$3,800,000 settlement by Continental Automotive Electronics LLC (and affiliated entities)

$2,698,000 settlement by ALPHA Corporation and Alpha Technology Corporation

$1,482,000 settlement by MAHLE Behr GmbH & Co. KG and MAHLE Behr USA Inc.

$760,000 settlement by Valeo S.A.

The following settlements were preliminarily approved by the U.S. District Court in 2018:

$44,840,000 settlement by Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. (and affiliated entities)

$34,200,000 settlement by Tokai Rika, Co. Ltd. and TRAM, Inc.

$28,880,000 settlement by KYB Corporation and KYB Americas Corporation

$6,840,000 settlement by Mitsubishi Heavy...