Purchasers/Lessees of New Motor Vehicles and Purchasers of Certain Replacement Parts Now to Benefit From $225 Million in Settlements

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is being released by the Notice Provider, Kinsella Media, LLC, about the lawsuit In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 2311.

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There is an update for affected purchasers in this lawsuit about certain motor vehicle components, as there have been additional Settlements that may affect their rights.

Settlements totaling approximately $225 million have now been reached with eleven 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, automotive wire harness systems, electronic throttle bodies, fuel injection systems, fuel senders, heater control panels, high intensity discharge ballasts, ignition coils, instrument panel clusters, inverters, motor generators, occupant safety restraint systems, radiators, starters, steering angle sensors, switches, and valve timing control devices.

Consumers and businesses may be included in the Class if, from 1998 to 2015, they:

1. Bought or leased a new motor vehicle in the U.S. (not for resale), or
2. Indirectly paid for a motor vehicle replacement part (not for resale).  (Indirectly means they bought the replacement part from someone other than the manufacturer of the part.)

New motor vehicles include, but are not limited to, automobiles, cars, light trucks, pickup trucks, crossovers, vans, mini-vans, and sport utility vehicles.  Visit the website, www.AutoPartsClass.com, or call 1-877-940-5043 for a full list of Settling Defendants and applicable time periods.

The Settlements provide money 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 certain Settling 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 April 11, 2016.
• Eligible consumers or businesses can object to one or more of the Settlements by April 11, 2016. 
• The Court will hold a hearing on May 11, 2016, to consider whether to approve the Settlements and approve Class Counsel's request that up to $11.25 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, incentive awards, 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