$54 Million in Settlements to Benefit Maine Purchasers/Lessees of New Motor Vehicles and Purchasers of Certain Replacement Parts

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by the Notice Provider, Kinsella Media, LLC, about the lawsuit In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 2311.

Settlements totaling approximately $54.1 million have been reached with two Defendants.  The lawsuits allege that they fixed the price of certain motor vehicle components, causing millions of consumers and businesses from around the country to overpay for new or leased automobiles and replacement parts, such as air flow meters, alternators, ATF warmers, electronic throttle bodies, fuel injection systems, ignition coils, inverters, motor generators, radiators, starters, and valve timing control devices.

Consumers and businesses in Maine may be included in the Class if, from 2000 to 2015, they:

1.  Bought or leased an eligible new vehicle in the U.S. (not for resale), or

2. Indirectly paid for an eligible motor vehicle replacement part. (Indirectly means they bought the replacement part from someone other than the manufacturer of the part.)

Eligible new motor vehicles are automobiles, light trucks, vans, mini-vans, and sport utility vehicles. 

The Settlements provide monetary relief for consumers in the District of Columbia and 30 states - Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.  The Settlements also provide non-monetary relief, including cooperation, and an agreement by the Defendants not to engage in certain conduct for a period of 24 months. 

The litigation is continuing against the remaining Non-Settling Defendants.  All funds received in this case will be distributed at the conclusion of the lawsuits or as ordered by the Court.  Notice about the claims process will be provided at a later date, and consumers and businesses should register to receive notice about the claims process or future settlements at www.AutoPartsClass.com.

Important Information and Dates:

• Eligible consumers or businesses that want to sue the Settling Defendants regarding a particular component part must exclude themselves from that Settlement Class by March 28, 2016.
• Eligible consumers or businesses can object to one or more of the Settlements by March 28, 2016. 
• The Court will hold a hearing on May 4, 2016, to consider whether to approve the Settlements and approve Class Counsel's request that up to $2 million be set aside for future litigation costs and expenses.  Class Counsel will also request at the hearing, or at a later date, attorneys' fees of up to one-third of the Settlements' funds, plus reimbursement of costs and expenses.

For more detailed information about the Settlements and a full list of Settling Defendants and time periods:

• Visit: www.AutoPartsClass.com
• Call: 1-877-940-5043
• Write to: Auto Parts Settlements, P.O. Box 10163, Dublin, OH 43017-3163

SOURCE Kinsella Media