If your company purchased new Electronics: Such as laptop computers, notebook computers, netbook computers, tablet computers, mobile phones, smart phones, cameras, camcorders, digital video cameras, digital audio players, and power tools., Containing a Lithium Ion Battery From 2000 to 2011 (12 Years).  There are separate settlements for entities that purchased Lithium Ion Battery products directly from Defendants.

Class Action Case: Lithium Ion Battery Products Indirect Purchaser Antitrust Class Action

Court Approved Website: https://www.reversethecharge.com/

Current Settlement Amount: $64.5 million

Claim Submission Deadline: Claim Forms are not yet available; the filing deadline established by the Court is September 30, 2017.

Case Summary: Several lawsuits were filed in 2012 alleging that the Defendants participated in a conspiracy to fix, raise, maintain and/or stabilize the prices of Lithium Ion Battery Products sold in the United States. In early 2013, these lawsuits were consolidated in the Northern District of California. At this time, the class entered into settlements totaling $64.45 million with LG Chem ($39 million), Sony ($19.5 million), Hitachi ($3.45 million) and NEC ($2.5 million). The Sony settlement received final Court approval and the LG Chem, Hitachi and NEC settlements are pending final Court approval at this time. The litigation is ongoing against all of the remaining Defendants so it is possible that additional funds may become available to the class if any additional settlements are reached.

Eligibility

Eligible Class Members include persons and entities that, from January 1, 2000, through May 31, 2011, indirectly purchased Lithium Ion Batteries (“Li-Ion Batteries”) and/or Lithium Ion Battery Products (“Li-Ion Products”) in the United States for their own use and not for resale from one or more of the Defendants in this lawsuit. “Indirectly” means the product was purchased from someone other than the manufacturer, such as a retail store.

Settlement Class Members: The following battery manufacturers (also referred to on this page as “Settling Defendants”)

· LG Chem, Ltd. and LG Chem America, Inc. (“LG Chem”)

· Hitachi Maxell Ltd. and Maxell Corporation of America (“Hitachi Maxell”)

· NEC Corporation (“NEC”)

have agreed to settlements resolving claims that they allegedly fixed the price of cylindrical lithium ion battery cells. Specifically, individuals and businesses may have paid more for certain products which contained these lithium ion cylindrical batteries.

Lithium Ion Products: laptop computers, notebook computers, netbook computers, tablet computers, mobile phones, smart phones, cameras, camcorders, digital video cameras, digital audio players, and power tools

Indirect Purchaser: An “Indirect” purchaser of a Product is someone who did not buy the Product directly from any Defendant.

Defendants: The Defendants include: 1) LG Chem, Ltd. and LG Chem America, Inc (“LG Chem”).; 2) Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. and Samsung SDI America, Inc.; 3) Panasonic Corporation and Panasonic Corporation of North America; 4) Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. and Sanyo North America Corporation; 5) Sony Corporation; Sony Energy Devices Corporation and Sony Electronics Inc. (“Sony”); 6) Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. and Maxell Corporation of America (“Hitachi”); 7) NEC Corporation and NEC Tokin Corporation (“NEC”); and 8) Toshiba Corporation