The maker of vehicle parking heaters is being sued in federal court over allegations the company conspired to fix the prices of its products.
Thomas Johnson and Jim Steger filed the lawsuit June 1 in U.S. District Court in New York against Espar Inc. and Espar Products Inc., claiming the company looked to fix prices for the parking heaters that were sold for use in commercial vehicles between Oct. 1, 2007, and Dec. 31, 2012.
A parking heater is used to heat the car while the engine isn't running and is more efficient to use than leaving the engine idling. According to the lawsuit, Espar pleaded guilty in March to violating federal law as a result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The lawsuit is seeking class action status for those who purchased parking heaters from the company between October 2007 and December 2012. The plaintiffs are also seeking an unspecified amount in damages plus court costs.
The plaintiffs are represented by A. Arnold Gershon and Michael A. Toomey of Barrack Rodos Bacine in New York City; Gerald R. Rodos, Jeffrey B. Gittleman and Julie B. Palley of the same law firm in Philadelphia; and William M. Audet and Jonas M. Mann of Audet & Partners LLP in San Francisco.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York case number 1:15-cv-03174.