Berman DeValerio Announces that New Car Buyers and Lessees in Hawaii, Iowa, North Carolina and the District of Columbia may now File a Claim for Payment from Two Class Action Settlements

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- If you bought or leased a new car or truck in Hawaii, Iowa, North Carolina or the District of Columbia during January 1, 2001 to April 30, 2003, you could get a payment from two class action settlements.

In Fall 2010 we notified car buyers and lessees nationwide of two settlements that resolve claims against Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. ("Toyota") and the Canadian Automobile Dealers' Association ("CADA") in several lawsuits across the country. The lawsuits are about an alleged conspiracy among several automakers to keep Canadian new car exports out of the U.S. Those who purchased or leased a new vehicle from a dealer in one of 20 "Eligible States" —AZ, AR, CA, ID, KS, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, NE, NV, NH, NM, ND, SD, TN, VT, WV and WI—were eligible to file a claim for payment from the settlement money, but the deadline for class members in those states to file a claim has passed.

The Court overseeing the case held a hearing on February 18, 2011 to consider the fairness, reasonableness and adequacy of the settlements. The Court has now ordered that car buyers and lessees in Hawaii, Iowa, North Carolina and the District of Columbia should also be able to file a claim for payment from the settlement money.

Who May Now File a Claim for Payment? To receive any money from the settlements, you must file a claim. You may only file a claim at this time if you purchased or leased a passenger car, light truck or SUV manufactured by one of the following automakers from an authorized dealer in Hawaii, Iowa, North Carolina or the District of Columbia during January 1, 2001 through April 30, 2003:

At the time of your purchase or lease, you must have resided in Hawaii, Iowa, North Carolina, the District of Columbia, or one of the original 20 Eligible States listed above.

What Are the Lawsuits About? The lawsuits claim that several automakers and a dealer association (CADA) conspired with each other to prevent cheaper, but virtually identical, new cars from being exported to the U.S. from Canada. The lawsuits allege that this violated state antitrust and consumer protection laws and caused new vehicle prices in the U.S. to be higher than they should have been. After considering the extensive evidence of the case after six years of litigation, the federal Court ruled in favor of all defendants except Toyota and CADA and dismissed them from the federal lawsuit. Toyota and CADA assert that they have acted lawfully and independently and that there is no legal or factual basis for these lawsuits. This is just a summary—for more info, visit www.CanadianExportAntitrust.com.

What Do the Settlements Provide? Toyota has agreed to pay $35 million, and CADA has agreed to pay $700,000, to settle the lawsuits. Toyota and CADA have agreed not to conspire or share information with others aimed at stopping Canada-to-U.S. new vehicle exports.

How Do I Ask for a Payment? To get a payment, you must submit a claim, which you should do online. The website contains all the information you need to submit a claim. You must submit your claim by January 13, 2012.

If you do not have Internet access, please call 1-866-266-9034 for more info and to learn how to submit a claim by mail.

FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION VISIT www.CanadianExportAntitrust.com

Berman DeValerio is lead counsel for the Settlement Classes. Other Class Counsel include:

Pomerantz Haudek Grossman & Gross LLP; Cafferty Faucher LLP; Heins Mills & Olson, PLC; Kohn Swift & Graf, P.C.; Labaton Sucharow LLP; and Lowey Dannenberg Cohen & Hart, P.C.

SOURCE Berman DeValerio