In re: Lithium-Ion Batteries Antitrust Litigation
Case Number: 13-MD-02420-YGR
What is it About?
This lawsuit alleges that Defendants and co-conspirators conspired to raise and fix the prices of Li-Ion Cells, Li-Ion Batteries, and Li-Ion Products for over ten years. As a result, indirect purchaser of portable computers, camcorders, and power tools containing Li-Ion Cylindrical Batteries were overcharged.
What are Li-Ion Cells, Li-Ion Batteries, and Li-Ion Products?
Li-Ion Cells are the main component of Lithium Ion Batteries. A cell includes the cathode, anode, and electrolyte.
Li-Ion Battery is a cylindrical, prismatic, or polymer battery that is rechargeable and uses lithium ion technology.
Li-Ion Products means products manufactured, marketed, and/or sold by Defendants, their divisions, subsidiaries, or affiliates, or their alleged co-conspirators that contain one or more Lithium Ion Battery Cells manufactured by Defendants or their alleged co-conspirators. Lithium Ion Battery Products include, but are not limited to, notebook computers, cellular (mobile) phones, digital cameras, camcorders, and power tools.
Who is Eligible?
This settlement includes all persons and entities who, from January 1, 2000 through May 31, 2011, indirectly purchased on of the following products which contained a lithium-ion cylindrical battery manufactured by SONY, LG, Hitachi, Maxell, of NEC:
- A portable computer,
- A power tool,
- A camcorder,
- An audio player and/or
- A replacement battery for any of these products.
“Indirectly purchased” means purchased from a retail store other than the manufacturer.
What is the Status?
In the Indirect Purchaser class, a small number of class members filed appeals in January 2021. If the appeals are dismissed, the distribution will continue as planned. If not, the appellants must go through the appeals process before the case goes back to the district court for distribution.
How much will it Pay?
The total settlement amount is $113 million. It reflects the combined settlement agreement of LG Chem, Hitachi Maxell, NEC, Sony, SDI, TOKIN, Toshiba, and Panasonic.
What are the Deadlines?
The deadline to file a claim has passed.
Additional Information
For additional information regarding the status of the litigation, interested persons may visit http://www.reversethecharge.com/, the Court-approved website for this case.
Contact us