Persons and entities that purchased certain Aftermarket Automotive Sheet Metal Products may be affected by a Class Action Lawsuit and may be entitled to a cash payment

MILWAUKEE, May 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Stueve Siegel Hanson, LLP, and Heins Mills & Olson P.L.C. announce that all persons and entities in the United States, and it territories and possessions, which purchased Aftermarket Automotive Sheet Metal Products ("AMSM") directly from Taiwan Kai Yih Industrial Co., Ltd., Tong Yang Industry Co., Ltd., TYG Products, L.P., Jui Li Enterprise Co., Ltd., Gordon Auto Body Parts Co. Ltd., Auto Parts Industrial, Ltd., or Cornerstone Auto Parts, LLC between January 1, 2003 and May 14, 2015 (the "Class"), may be affected by a Class Action Lawsuit and may be entitled to a cash payment.

Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs claim that during the Class Period, between January 1, 2003 and May 14, 2015, Defendants violated the United States federal antitrust laws by agreeing to fix prices and limit supply for AMSM. AMSM includes hoods, doors, bumpers, fenders, bonnets, floor panels, trunk assemblies, trunk lids, tailgates, roof panels and reinforcement parts. Defendants have denied and continue to deny each and all of the claims and contentions alleged by Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs, as well as all charges of wrongdoing or liability. The Court has not decided in favor of either Party.

Proposed Settlements have been reached with Tong Yang Industry Co., Ltd., Taiwan Kai Yih Industrial Co., Ltd., and TYG Products, L.P. for USD$16 million in cash, and Gordon Auto Body Parts Co. Ltd. (together "Settling Defendants") for USD$9 million, which, after Taiwan taxes, will net USD$12.8 million and USD$7.2 million for a total of USD$20 million in a settlement fund ("Settlement Fund"). After deducting costs, fees and expenses, the balance of the Settlement Fund will be distributed to the Class on a pro-rata basis depending on how much you spent on AMSM during the Class Period from all the Defendants. The lawsuit will continue against the Non-Settling Defendants—Jui Li Enterprise Co. Ltd., Auto Parts Industrial, Ltd., and Cornerstone Auto Parts, LLC.

If you are included you have a choice of whether to stay in the Class or not. If you submit a Claim Form, file an objection or do nothing, you are choosing to stay in the Class, and you will be bound by the Settlement Agreements and Releases, as well as the Court's orders and decisions in these Settlements and the action against the Non-Settling Defendants.

If you remain in the Class, you may be eligible to share in the Settlement Fund. You must complete and submit a timely Claim Form postmarked no later than July 9, 2015 to Aftermarket Sheet Metal Settlement Claims Administrator, c/o KCC Class Action Services, P.O. Box 40008, College Station, TX 77842-4008. Claim Forms are available at www.AftermarketSheetMetalSettlement.com, or by calling 1-866-413-5892.

If you want to keep your right to sue or continue to sue one or more of the Defendants on your own about the same issues in this case, you must exclude yourself from the Class. If you exclude yourself, you cannot get a payment from these Settlements and you will not be bound by the Settlements, the Court's orders and judgments or anything that happens in the action against the Non-Settling Defendants. To exclude yourself, you must submit a written request for exclusion, postmarked by June 29, 2015 to the Claims Administrator at Aftermarket Sheet Metal Settlement Claims Administrator, c/o KCC Class Action Services-Exclusions, 75 Rowland Way, Suite 250, Novato, CA 94945. More information regarding how to exclude yourself from the Class can be found in the Long Form Notice available at www.AftermarketSheetMetalSettlement.com.

You may object to all or any part of the Settlements and give reasons why you think the Court should not approve them. Your written objection must be mailed to the Claims Administrator, Class Counsel, Counsel for the Settling Defendants, and the Court and must be postmarked no later than June 29, 2015. You may request to appear and speak at the Final Approval Hearings. You may have your own attorney attend, at your own expense, but are not required to.

The Court will hold the Final Approval Hearings beginning at 10:30 a.m. on August 14, 2015, at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. At these hearings, the Court will listen to any objections and consider whether to approve each Settlement as fair, reasonable, and adequate; a request by Class Counsel for attorneys' fees and expenses; and a service award of $25,000 from the Tong Yang Settlement and $10,000 from the Gordon Settlement to each of the Class Representatives (Fond du Lac Bumper Exchange Inc. and Roberts Wholesale Auto Parts Inc.). Class Counsel is requesting attorneys' fees in the amount of no more than 33% of the Net Settlement Fund (that is, the Settlements amount after deduction of Taiwan taxes) and payment of litigation costs and expenses of not more than $1.4 million. These costs and expenses include each law firm's reported expenses and common costs to date. As the litigation continues, Class Counsel will incur more expenses and may ask the Court for an additional payment.

For more information go to www.AftermarketSheetMetalSettlement.com, or call 1-866-413-5892.

SOURCE Stueve Siegel Hanson, LLP, and Heins Mills & Olson P.L.C.