Resistors

This proposed class action alleges that the defendants and their senior executives participated in illegal and secret meetings and made agreements to fix, raise, maintain, and control the price for the supply of Resistors and/or to enhance unreasonably the prices of Resistors and/or to lessen unduly competition in the sale of Resistors in Canada including British Columbia and elsewhere. The Notice of Civil Claim can be viewed below. Proposed class actions have also been commenced in Ontario and Quebec.

Settlement Approval

On February 1, 2023, the Ontario Court certified a settlement class for the purpose of implementing a settlement with Hokuriku Electric Industry Co. and HDK America Inc. (collectively “HDK”). HDK is not a named defendant in the BC Action.

HDK has agreed to pay CAD$910,750 for the benefit of Settlement Class Members and to provide meaningful early co-operation to the plaintiffs in pursuing their claims against the non-settling defendants.

The HDK settlement (the “HDK Settlement Agreement”) is subject to Court approval in Ontario and Quebec. BC residents are included in the Ontario settlement class and should provide any comments or objections to the settlement to the Ontario Court through Ontario or BC Class Counsel.

On February 24, 2023, the BC Court certified a settlement class regarding a settlement entered into with Rohm Co. Ltd. and Rohm Semiconductor U.S.A., LLC (collectively “ROHM”).

ROHM has agreed to pay CAD $1,550,000 for the benefit of Settlement Class Members and to provide meaningful early co-operation to the plaintiffs in pursuing their claims against the non-settling defendants.

The ROHM settlement (the “ROHM Settlement Agreement”) is subject to Court approval in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. Hearings to approve the ROHM Settlement Agreement and HDK Settlement Agreement will be held as follows:

• Ontario: on July 5, 2023 at 10:00 am by virtual hearing;
• British Columbia: on August 25, 2023 at 9:00am, in person at 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2E1 (ROHM only); and
• Quebec: on June 6, 2023 at 9:30am at 1, rue Notre-Dame Est, Montréal, Québec, Room 16.06 by virtual hearing.

For details of the ROHM Settlement Agreement, HDK Settlement Agreement and settlement hearings, please see the Long Form Notices (English and French) located under the “Important Documents” heading below.

The deadline to comment or object to the ROHM Settlement Agreement and HDK Settlement Agreement or the fee request of Class Counsel is June 2, 2023. You must send your written submissions to Foreman & Company, 4 Covent Market Place, London ON N6A 1E2, or by email at [email protected].

Opting Out of the Class Action

The court-ordered deadline for Settlement Class Members to opt-out of the Class Actions was January 29, 2021. If you did not previously opt-out, you are legally bound by the results of the Class Actions, including the HDK and Rohm Settlement Agreements, if approved.

For more information please contact Sharon Wong, Paralegal at (604) 689-7555 or by email at [email protected].

Previous Court-Approved Settlement

A settlement of CAD $2,350,000 has been reached with the Panasonic Corporation, Panasonic Corporation of North America, and Panasonic Canada Inc.  (collectively “Panasonic”) defendants. The Panasonic settlement agreement was approved by the Courts in 2021.

A settlement of CAD $770,000 has been reached with the Kamaya Electric Co., Ltd. and Kamaya, Inc.. (collectively “Kamaya”) defendants. The Kamaya settlement agreement was approved by the Courts in 2022.

If there are further recoveries, they will be added to the present settlement amounts and an efficient distribution will be made at an appropriate time. That plan must be approved by the Courts before it takes effect.

Discontinuances

Discontinuances have been issued as against the Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Murata Electronics North America, Inc. Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Company of America , Yageo Corporation, Yageo America Corporation, and Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

Important Documents

• Notice of Civil Claim
• Panasonic Settlement Agreement
• Kamaya Settlement Agreement
• ROHM Settlement Agreement
• HDK Settlement Agreement
• Long Form Notice (English) (French)

Resistors - Status Updates:

New Settlement: Resistors Class Action - View

New Settlement: Resistors Class Action - View

Resistors Class Action – Settlement approval hearing - View