The following LCD Flat Panel TV producers have agreed to a settlement in the TFT LCD Class Action Lawsuit: Samsung Electronics, Sharp, Chimei Innolux, Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Epson Imaging Devices, HannStar Display and Hitachi Displays. These manufacturers of LCD flat screens and producys have agreed to pay consumers over $553 million to resolve allegations they conspired to raise and fix the prices of TFT-LCD panel. A TFT-LCD is a display technology used in flat panel televisions as well as in computer monitors, notebook computers, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, and other devices. The $553 million dollar settlement is the largest pay out in the history of antitrust class action lawsuit.
The case is entitled TFT-LCD (Flat Panel) Antitrust Litigation and is in the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Class members in the lawsuit include anyone who purchased a TFT-LCD panels or certain products from Samsung Electronics, Sharp, Chimei Innolux, Chunghwa, Epson Imaging Devices, HannStar and Hitach containing those panels between 1996 and 2006. There are two distinct classes, the “panel class” and the “product” class. The panel class includes customers who bought a TFT-LCD panel. The product class includes anyone who bought a television, computer monitor, or notebook computer containing a TFT-LCD panel. And yes it is possible to be part of more than one class. Settlement payouts have not yet been determined but all claims must be filed no later than April 5, 2012 in order to be eligible for a payout. The class counsel consist of Bruce L. Simon of the Pearson, Simon, Warshaw & Penny, LLP and Richard M. Heimann of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. The claim form is currently being revised and will be available soon. Please check the class administrators website at a later date for the form.
www.tftlcdclassaction.com
Here is a complete list of the named defendants and the co-conspirators:
AU Optronics Corporation
AU Optronics Corporation America
Chi Mei Corporation
Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corporation
Chi Mei Optoelectronics USA, Inc.
Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
CMO Japan Co., Ltd.
Epson Electronics America, Inc.
Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
HannStar Display Corporation
Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
Hitachi Electronic Devices (USA), Inc.
Hitachi, Ltd.
Hydis Technologies Co. Ltd.
IPS Alpha Technology, Ltd.
LG Display America, Inc. (formerly known as
LG.Philips LCD America, Inc.)
LG Display Co., Ltd. (formerly known as
LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.)
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
Mitsui & Co. (Taiwan), Ltd.
NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
Nexgen Mediatech, Inc.
Nexgen Mediatech USA, Inc.
Panasonic Corporation
Panasonic Corporation of North America
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.
Sanyo Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
Sanyo Electric Company, Ltd.
Sanyo North America Corporation
Seiko Epson Corporation
Sharp Corporation
Sharp Electronics Corporation
Tatung Company of America, Inc.
Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.
Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.
Toshiba Corporation
Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd
