Dr. Janet Netz and applEcon have assisted counsel representing indirect end payors of auto parts in the recovery of $1.04 billion in settlements to date. applEcon began work in 2012 on In re Automotive Wire Harness Systems Antitrust Litigation. Subsequently, applEcon has worked on In re Occupant Safety Systems, In re Heater Control Panels, In re Anti-Vibrational Rubber Parts, In re Bearings, and related cases, which have been consolidated as In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation.

applEcon is working with counsel that represent the end purchaser payors class, including Cotchett, Pitre, & McCarthy LLP; Robins Kaplan LLP; and Susman Godfrey LLP. applEcon continues to assist counsel in all aspects of this litigation, including defendant and third-party discovery, liability, damages, and settlement. The complexity of these cases has required significant fact research as well as considerable data understanding and processing by applEcon.

Wire harnesses, bearings, heater control panels, occupant safety systems, and anti-vibrational rubber parts are all part of an alleged massive global price-fixing and bid-rigging conspiracy among automotive parts manufacturers involving approximately 40 different types of parts and more than 160 defendants.

Defendants’ alleged conduct effectively raised prices of the at-issue automotive parts, which were components of vehicles purchased and leased by U.S. consumers. The automotive parts litigation is one of the most complicated set of antitrust class action cases in U.S. history, and the cumulative settlement amount to date represents one of the largest antitrust recoveries secured on behalf of end payors in U.S. history.

For further information on In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation:

“Settlements in Landmark Auto Parts Litigation Surpass $1 Billion”, Business Wire, 28 February 2018

In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation Class Website, autopartsclass.com, 18 September 2018