DETROIT (Legal Newsline) – Bridgestone is one of several defendants being sued for alleged antitrust violations in what the company calls one of the largest litigations in the country.
Three consumers recently filed class action complaints, individually and on behalf of all others against Bridgestone Corporation, Bridgestone APM Company, Yamashita Rubber Co. Ltd., Yusa Corporations, Sumitomo Riko Company, Ltd., DTR Industries, Inc., Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd., Toyo Tire North America OE Sales LLC, and Toyo Automotive Parts (USA) Inc., alleging conspiracy to inflate the pieces of anti-vibration rubber parts.
This lawsuit is one of many cases coming forward because of the automotive parts antitrust litigation.
“This is one case in one of the largest litigations in the United States,” Bridgestone attorney Steven A Reiss told Legal Newsline. “It involves 39 separate groups of class actions and 60 different groups of defendants.”
These lawsuits allege the defendant in each lawsuit unlawfully raised the price of vehicle parts. As a result of this, consumers who purchased or leased the qualified vehicles can sue for damages.
“This lawsuit has been going on for four years,” Reiss said. “This is just another aspect.”
More than 11 companies agreed to round one settlements, while several others withdrew their objections. These settlements are not yet final, while round two settlements will be heard in April.
Bridgestone is part of a long list of companies that are not settling. The plaintiffs are seeking trial by jury, damages and coverage of all legal fees.
“This is just another group of plaintiffs that have filed, effectively, the same case that has been filed a number of years ago by other groups of plaintiffs,” Reiss said. “There can’t be any new people to come forward because the statute of limitations has run.”
The plaintiffs are represented by nine legal teams, including David H. Fink, Darryl Bressack and Nate Fink of Fink + Associates Law in Michigan.