Persons and entities that purchased certain Aftermarket Automotive Sheet Metal Products may be affected by a class action settlement and continued litigation.
MILWAUKEE, Dec. 12, 2017 /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 Company, 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 "Settlement Class" or "Class"), may be affected by a class action settlement with Jui Li Enterprise Company, Ltd.
Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs claim that 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.
A proposed Settlement has been reached with Jui Li Enterprise Company, Ltd. for USD$3,350,000 in cash, which, after Taiwan taxes, will net USD$2,680,000 in a settlement fund ("Settlement Fund"). Prior settlements were reached with Tong Yang Industry Co., Ltd., Taiwan Kai Yih Industrial Co., Ltd., and TYG Products, L.P., and Gordon Auto Body Parts Co. Ltd. After deducting costs, fees and expenses, the balance of the Jui Li 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—Auto Parts Industrial, Ltd. and Cornerstone Auto Parts, LLC.
You are included in the Court certified Settlement Class if you fit the following description: All persons and entities in the United States, and its territories and possessions, that purchased Aftermarket Automotive Sheet Metal Products directly from any of the Defendants between January 1, 2003 and May 14, 2015.
You are included in the Court certified Litigation Class if you fit the following description: All persons and entities in the United States, and its territories and possessions, that purchased AM Sheet Metal Parts directly from a Defendant between at least as early as January 1, 2003, and September 4, 2009.
If you are included in the Court certified Settlement Class and you submitted a valid Claim Form in 2015, you will automatically receive a payment from this Settlement if it is approved and becomes final. If you are included you may object to all or any part of the Settlement and give reasons why you think the Court should not approve it. Your written objection must be mailed to the Settlement and Litigation Administrator, Class Counsel, Counsel for Jui Li, and the Court and must be postmarked no later than January 11, 2018. You may also request to appear and speak at the Final Approval Hearing. You may have your own attorney attend, at your own expense, but are not required to. If you are included in the Court certified Settlement Class and Court certified Litigation Class you may ask to be excluded from the Settlement and Litigation. To do so, you must send a letter by mail to the Settlement and Litigation Administrator stating that you want to be excluded from Fond du Lac Bumper Exchange, Inc., et al. v. Jui Li Enterprise Co. Ltd., et al., 2:09-cv-00852 (E.D. Wis.) postmarked no later than January 11, 2018. More information regarding how to object to the Settlement, request to appear at the Final Approval Hearing, and request how to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class and Litigation Class can be found in the Long Form Notice available at www.AftermarketSheetMetalSettlement.com.
The Court will hold the Final Approval Hearing beginning at 11:30 a.m. February 16, 2018, at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. At this hearing, the Court will listen to any objections and consider whether to approve the Settlement as fair, reasonable, and adequate; a request by Class Counsel for attorneys' fees and expenses; and a service award of $5,000 to each of the Class Representatives (Fond du Lac Bumper Exchange Inc. and Roberts Wholesale Body Parts, Inc.). Class Counsel is requesting attorneys' fees in the amount of no more than 33% of the Net Settlement Fund (that is, the Settlement Fund amount after deduction of Taiwan taxes) and payment of litigation costs and expenses. 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. Class Counsel's motion for attorneys' fees and costs and service awards will be available at www.AftermarketSheetMetalSettlement.com, on or about December 28, 2017.
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.
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