Each lawsuit claims that the Defendants in that lawsuit agreed to unlawfully raise the price of a certain kind of vehicle component part. (For example, one lawsuit is called In re: Radiators, and the affected product is radiators.) As a result of the alleged agreements by Defendants, consumers and businesses who purchased or leased qualifying new vehicles (not for resale) containing those parts or who indirectly purchased qualifying replacement parts (not for resale) from the Defendants may have paid more than they should have. Although the Round 3 Settling Defendants have agreed to settle, they do not agree that they engaged in any wrongdoing or are liable or owe any money or benefits to Plaintiffs. The Court has not yet decided who is right.

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The Round 3 Settling Defendants are:

1. Aisan Industry Co., Ltd.; Franklin Precision Industry, Inc.; Aisan Corporation of America; and Hyundam Industrial Co., Ltd. (collectively, “Aisan”),
2. ALPHA Corporation and Alpha Technology Corporation (collectively, “ALPHA”),
3. Alps Electric Co., Ltd.; Alps Electric (North America), Inc.; and Alps Automotive Inc. (collectively, “Alps”),
4. Robert Bosch GmbH and Robert Bosch LLC (collectively, “Bosch”),
5. Bridgestone Corporation and Bridgestone APM Company (collectively, “Bridgestone”),
6. Calsonic Kansei Corporation and Calsonic Kansei North America, Inc. (collectively, “Calsonic”),
7. Chiyoda Manufacturing Corporation and Chiyoda USA Corporation (collectively, “Chiyoda”),
8. Continental Automotive Electronics LLC; Continental Automotive Korea Ltd; and Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (collectively, “Continental”),
9. Diamond Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd. and Diamond Electric Mfg. Corporation (collectively, “Diamond Electric”),
10. Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG and Eberspächer North America Inc. (collectively, “Eberspächer”),
11. Faurecia Abgastechnik GmbH; Faurecia Systèmes d’Échappement; Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, USA, LLC; and Faurecia Emissions Control Systems, N.A. LLC f/k/a Faurecia Exhaust Systems, Inc. (collectively, “Faurecia”),
12. Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. (“HIAMS”),
13. Hitachi Metals, Ltd.; Hitachi Cable America Inc.; and Hitachi Metals America, Ltd. (collectively, “Hitachi Metals”),
14. INOAC Corporation; INOAC Group North America, LLC; and INOAC USA Inc. (collectively, “INOAC”),
15. JTEKT Corporation; JTEKT Automotive North America, Inc.; and JTEKT North America Corp. (formerly d/b/a Koyo Corporation of U.S.A.) (collectively, “JTEKT”),
16. Kiekert AG and Kiekert U.S.A., Inc. (collectively, “Kiekert”),
17. Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and North American Lighting, Inc. (collectively, “KOITO”),
18. MAHLE Behr GmbH & Co. KG and MAHLE Behr USA Inc. (collectively, “MAHLE Behr”),
19. MITSUBA Corporation and American Mitsuba Corporation (collectively, “MITSUBA”),
20. Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp. and Nachi America Inc. (collectively, “Nachi”),
21. NGK Insulators, Ltd. and NGK Automotive Ceramics USA, Inc. (collectively, “NGK Insulators”),
22. NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. and NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), Inc. (collectively, “NGK Spark Plugs”),
23. Nishikawa Rubber Company, Ltd. (“Nishikawa”),
24. NTN Corporation and NTN USA Corporation (collectively, “NTN”),
25. Sanden Automotive Components Corporation; Sanden Automotive Climate Systems Corporation; and Sanden International (U.S.A.) Inc. (collectively, “Sanden”),
26. SKF USA Inc. (“SKF”),
27. Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.; Stanley Electric U.S. Co., Inc.; and II Stanley Co., Inc. (collectively, “Stanley”);
28. Tenneco Inc.; Tenneco GmbH; and Tenneco Automotive Operating Co., Inc. (collectively, “Tenneco”),
29. Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd.; Toyo Tire North America OE Sales LLC; and Toyo Automotive Parts (U.S.A.), Inc. (collectively, “Toyo”),
30. Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd. and Usui International Corporation (collectively, “Usui”),
31. Valeo S.A. (“Valeo”),
32. Yamada Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and Yamada North America, Inc. (collectively, “Yamada”), and
33. Yamashita Rubber Co., Ltd. and YUSA Corporation (collectively, “YAMASHITA”).

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Yes. The following companies previously agreed to the Round 1 Settlements in the lawsuits:

1. Autoliv, Inc.; Autoliv ASP, Inc.; Autoliv B.V. & Co. KG; Autoliv Safety Technology, Inc.; And Autoliv Japan Ltd. (collectively, “Autoliv”),
2. Fujikura, Ltd. and Fujikura Automotive America LLC (together, “Fujikura”),
3. Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. (“HIAMS”),
4. Kyungshin-Lear Sales and Engineering, LLC (“KL Sales”),
5. Lear Corporation (“Lear”),
6. Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.; N.S. International, Ltd.; and New Sabina Industries, Inc. (collectively, “Nippon Seiki”),
7. Panasonic Corporation and Panasonic Corporation of North America (together, “Panasonic”),
8. Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.; Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc. (incorporating K&S Wiring Systems, Inc.); and Sumitomo Wiring Systems (U.S.A.) Inc. (collectively, “Sumitomo”),
9. T.RAD Co., Ltd. and T.RAD North America, Inc. (together, “T.RAD”),
10. TRW Deutschland Holding GmbH and TRW Automotive Holdings Corporation (now known as “ZF TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.”) (together, “TRW”), and
11. Yazaki Corporation and Yazaki North America, Incorporated (together, “Yazaki”).

The following companies previously agreed to the Round 2 Settlements in the lawsuits:

1. Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. and Aisin Automotive Casting, LLC (together, “Aisin Seiki”),
2. DENSO Corporation; DENSO International America, Inc.; DENSO International Korea Corporation; DENSO Korea Automotive Corporation; DENSO Automotive Deutschland GmbH; ASMO Co., Ltd.; ASMO North America, LLC; ASMO Greenville of North Carolina, Inc.; and ASMO Manufacturing, Inc. (collectively, “DENSO”),
3. Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. and American Furukawa, Inc. (together, “Furukawa”),
4. G.S. Electech, Inc.; G.S. Wiring Systems Inc.; and G.S.W. Manufacturing, Inc. (collectively, “G.S. Electech”),
5. LEONI Wiring Systems, Inc. and Leonische Holding Inc. (together, “LEONI”),
6. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Mitsubishi Electric US Holdings, Inc.; and Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, Inc. (collectively, “MELCO”),
7. NSK Ltd.; NSK Americas, Inc.; NSK Steering Systems Co., Ltd.; and NSK Steering Systems America, Inc. (collectively, “NSK”),
8. Omron Automotive Electronics Co. Ltd. (“Omron”),
9. Schaeffler Group USA Inc. (“Schaeffler”),
10. Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. and DTR Industries, Inc. (together, “Sumitomo Riko”),
11. Tokai Rika Co., Ltd. and TRAM, Inc. d/b/a Tokai Rika U.S.A. Inc. (together, “Tokai Rika”), and
12. Valeo Japan Co., Ltd. on behalf of itself and Valeo Inc.; Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.; and Valeo Climate Control Corp. (collectively, “VALEO”).

The Court has given final approval to the Round 1 Settlements. See Order Granting Final Approval (June 20, 2016) (available on the Court Documents page).

The Court has also given final approval to the Round 2 Settlements after overruling objections from several persons claiming to be members of the Settlement Classes. See Order Granting Final Approval to the Round 2 Settlements (July 10, 2017) (available on the Court Documents page). The Court also struck certain objections because they were not timely filed. Id. at 13-14. Two of those objectors have appealed, and their appeal is pending before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

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A list of the Non-Settling Defendants and the vehicle component parts they manufactured and sold is available on the Non-Settling Defendants page of this website.

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The Settlements generally include the vehicle component parts listed below. The specific definitions of the vehicle component parts are available in each Settlement Agreement. Each of those Settlement Agreements, and the related Complaints, are accessible on the Court Documents page.

You may also select from this drop down for further information on an indivdual part:

• Access Mechanisms are door and trunk handles, door keys and door locks, electrical steering column locks, and mechanical steering column locks.
• Air Conditioning Systems are systems that cool the interior environment of a vehicle and are part of a vehicle’s thermal system. Air Conditioning Systems, whether sold together or separately, include one or more of the following: automotive compressors, condensers, HVAC units (typically consisting of a blower motor, actuators, flaps, evaporator, heater core, and filter embedded in a plastic housing), control panels, sensors, and associated hoses and pipes.
• Air Flow Meters are used to measure the volume of air flowing into motor vehicle engines.
• Air Fuel Ratio Sensors are “wideband” oxygen sensors that enable more precise control of the air-to-fuel ratio injected into the engine. Air Fuel Ratio Sensors are a type of Oxygen Sensor.
• Alternators are electromechanical devices that generate an electric current while vehicle engines are in operation.
• Anti-Vibrational Rubber Parts are comprised primarily of rubber and metal and are installed in suspension systems and engine mounts, as well as other parts of a vehicle, to reduce engine and road vibration.
• Automatic Transmission Fluid Warmers are devices located in the engine compartment of a vehicle that warm the automatic transmission fluid.
• Automotive Bearings are devices in a vehicle used to position, hold, and guide moving parts, as well as to reduce friction between moving and fixed parts. Automotive Bearings are located throughout a vehicle. Automotive Bearings include the following devices used in vehicles: ball bearings, tapered roller bearings, roller bearings, mounted bearings, and parts and components for ball and roller bearings.
• Automotive Brake Hoses are flexible hoses that carry brake fluid through the hydraulic brake system of an automobile.
• Automotive Hoses are flexible tubes used to convey liquid and air in vehicles. Automotive Hoses include low-pressure rubber hoses used in automobile engine compartments and plastic and resin tubes used in vehicle engine compartments and fuel tank modules.
• Automotive Constant-Velocity-Joint Boot Products are composed of rubber or plastic, and are used to cover the constant-velocity-joints of an automobile to protect the joints from contaminants.
• Automotive Lamps include headlamps and rear combination lamps installed by automobile original equipment manufacturers. A headlamp is an Automotive Lamp installed in the front of an automobile, which consists of lights such as headlights, a clearance lamp, and turn signals. A rear combination lamp is an Automotive Lamp installed in the rear of an automobile, which consists of lights such as a backup lamp, stop lamp, tail lights, and turn signals.
• Automotive Steel Tubes are used in fuel distribution, braking, and other automotive systems. Automotive Steel Tubes are sometimes divided into two categories: chassis tubes and engine parts. Chassis tubes, such as brake and fuel tubes, tend to be located in the body of a vehicle. Engine parts, such as fuel injection rails, oil level tubes, and oil strainer tubes, are associated with the function of a vehicle’s engine.
• Automotive Wire Harness Systems are the electrical distribution systems used to direct and control electronic components, wiring, and circuit boards in vehicles. Automotive Wire Harness Systems include the following parts: automotive wire harnesses, automotive electrical wiring, lead wire assemblies, cable bond, automotive wiring connectors, automotive wiring terminals, electronic control units, fuse boxes, relay boxes, junction blocks, power distributors, high voltage wiring, and speed sensor wire assemblies.
• Body Sealings are automotive body sealing parts. They are typically made of rubber and trim the doors, hoods, and compartments of vehicles. Body Sealings keep noise, debris, rainwater, and wind from entering the vehicle and control vehicle vibration. In some instances, they also serve as a design element. Body Sealings include body-side opening seals, door-side weather-stripping, glass-run channels, trunk lids, and other rubber sealings.
• Ceramic Substrates are uncoated ceramic monoliths with fine honeycomb structures that, after coating with a mix of metal and other chemicals, are incorporated into automotive catalytic converters.
• Electric Powered Steering Assemblies provide power to assist the driver to more easily steer the vehicle. Electric Powered Steering Assemblies link the steering wheel to the tires. Electric Powered Steering Assemblies include Pinion-Assist Type Electric Powered Steering Assemblies as well as all component parts of the assemblies, including the steering column, intermediate shaft, electronic control unit, and electric power steering motors (but not the steering wheel or tires).
• Electronic Throttle Bodies control the amount of air flowing into a motor vehicle’s engine.
• Exhaust Systems are systems of piping and other parts that convey noxious exhaust gases away from the passenger compartment and reduces the level of pollutants and engine exhaust noise emitted. An Exhaust System includes one or more of the following components: manifold, flex pipes, catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, isolator/gasket/clamps, resonator assemblies/pipe accessories, and muffler/muffler assemblies. An Exhaust System has a “hot end,” which is the part of the Exhaust System that is mounted to the engine, which is generally comprised of a manifold and catalytic converter, and a “cold end,” which is the part of the Exhaust System that is mounted to the underbody of the car, which generally contains a muffler, pipes, and possibly a catalytic converter.
• Fan Motors are small electric motors used to turn radiator cooling fans.
• Fuel Injection Systems admit fuel or a fuel/air mixture into vehicle engine cylinders. Fuel Injection Systems can also be sold as part of a broader system, such as an engine management system, or as separate components. Fuel Injection Systems include one or more of the following parts: injectors; high pressure pumps; rail assemblies; feed lines; engine electronic control units; fuel pumps and fuel pump modules; manifold absolute pressure sensors; pressure regulators; pulsation dampers; purge control valves; air flow meters; and electronic throttle bodies.
• Heater Control Panels are either mechanical or electrical devices that control the temperature of the interior environment of a vehicle. Heater Control Panels can be either manual (referred to as low-grade) or automatic (referred to as high-grade) and are located in the center console, back seat, or rear cabin of an automobile.
• Fuel Senders are devices located inside the fuel tank of vehicles that measure the amount of fuel in the tank.
• High Intensity Discharge (“HID”) Ballasts are electrical devices that limit the amount of electrical current flowing to a High Intensity Discharge Ballast headlamp.
• Ignition Coils release electric energy to ignite the fuel/air mixture in cylinders.
• Instrument Panel Clusters are the mounted instruments and gauges housed in front of the driver of a vehicle. Instrument Panel Clusters are also known as meters.
• Interior Trim Products are automotive plastic interior trim parts. They do not include the main bodies of instrument panels and typically consist of molded trim parts made from plastics, polymers, elastomers, and/or resins manufactured and/or sold for installation in automobile interiors, including console boxes, assist grips, registers, center cluster panels, glove boxes, and glove box doors, meter cluster hoods, switch hole covers, and lower panel covers and boxes.
• Inverters convert direct current electricity to alternating current electricity.
• Motor Generators are electric motors used to power electric drive systems that can also capture and regenerate energy.
• Occupant Safety Restraint Systems are comprised of the parts in an automotive vehicle that protect drivers and passengers from bodily harm. Occupant Safety Restraint Systems include one or more of the following: seat belts, air bags, steering wheels or steering systems, and safety electronic systems.
• Oil Coolers are devices located in the engine compartment of a vehicle that remove surplus heat from the engine oil. (This part does not have its own separate lawsuit. Claims relating to Oil Coolers are brought in the Automatic Transmission Fluid Warmers case.)
• Power Window Motors are small electric motors used to raise and lower vehicle windows.
• Power Window Switches are switches that raise or lower a vehicle’s electric windows.
• Radiators are heat exchangers or other devices that help prevent vehicle engines from overheating or otherwise regulate the temperature of the engine compartment of a vehicle and the fluids passing through it, including all devices physically attached to and sold as part of a radiator.
• Shock Absorbers are part of the suspension system on automobiles. They absorb and dissipate energy to help cushion vehicles on uneven roads, leading to improved ride quality and vehicle handling. Shock Absorbers are also called “dampers.”
• Side Door Latches secure an automotive door to a vehicle body and may be locked to prevent unauthorized access to a vehicle. A “Latch Minimodule” includes the Side Door Latch and all of the related mechanical operating components, including the electric lock function.
• Spark Plugs are located in the engine and deliver high electric voltage from the ignition system to the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine.
• Standard Oxygen Sensors are located in the exhaust system and measure the amount of oxygen in the exhaust.
• Starters are devices that power a vehicle’s battery to “turn over” and start when the driver turns the ignition switch.
• Steering Angle Sensors detect the angle of the vehicle’s direction and send signals to a vehicle computer, which in turn controls the vehicle stability during turns. Steering Angle Sensors are installed on the steering column of a vehicle and may be connected to part of a combination switch.
• Switches include one or more of the following: steering wheel switch (installed in the steering wheel), used to control functions within the vehicle; turn switch (installed behind the steering wheel), used to signal a left or right turn and control hi/lo beam selection; wiper switch (installed behind the steering wheel), used to activate the vehicle’s windshield wipers; combination switch, a combination of the turn and wiper switches as one unit, sold together as a pair; and door courtesy switch (installed in the door frame), which activates the light inside the vehicle when the door opens.
• Valve Timing Control Devices (also called Variable Timing Devices and/or Variable Timing Control Devices), control the timing of engine valve operation and include the Variable Timing Control actuator or solenoid valve. Some valve timing control devices may also contain an oil control valve.
• Windshield Washer Systems include one or more of the following: pump, hoses, nozzle, and tank necessary to deliver washer fluid to vehicle windows.
• Windshield Wiper Systems include one or more of the following: motor, linkage, arm, and blade necessary to clear water or snow from vehicle windows.

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In class actions, one or more individuals or companies called the “class representatives” sue on behalf of themselves and other people with similar claims in the specific class action. All of these individuals or companies together are the “Class” or “Class members.” In these Class actions, there are more than fifty Class representatives. In a class action, one court may resolve the issues for all Class members, except for those who exclude themselves from the Class.

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Generally, you may be included in one or more of the Settlement Classes if, at any time from 1995 to 2018, you: (1) bought or leased a qualifying new vehicle in the U.S. (not for resale), or (2) paid to replace one or more of the qualifying vehicle parts listed in Question 5 above (not for resale). In general, qualifying vehicles include four-wheeled passenger automobiles, cars, light trucks, pickup trucks, crossovers, vans, mini-vans, and sport utility vehicles.

The specific definition of the vehicles, as well as the definition of who is included in the Settlement Classes, is set forth in each Settlement Agreement. Each of those Settlement Agreements, and the related Complaints, are accessible on the Court Documents page.

You will also be able to obtain additional information to learn whether you are a member of one or more of the Round 1, Round 2, or Round 3 Settlement Classes by using the “Is My Vehicle or Part Included?” search tool on this website.

A separate Settlement Class has been approved (for the Round 1 and Round 2 Settlements) or preliminarily approved (for Round 3 Settlements) by the Court in each of the following cases settled by the Settling Defendants and their affiliates. The time period covered by the Settlements for each of the Settlement Classes is provided below:

Round 1 Settling Defendants

Round 2 Settling Defendants

Round 3 Settling Defendants

Payments to members of the Round 3 Settlement Classes only will be made if the Court approves the Round 3 Settlements and after any appeals from such approval are resolved and in accordance with the Plan of Allocation to distribute the Net Settlement Funds (see Question 13).

These cases are proceeding as class actions seeking monetary recovery for consumers and businesses in 30 states and the District of Columbia and for nationwide injunctive relief to stop the Defendants’ alleged illegal behavior and prevent this behavior from happening in the future (see Question 14).

Purchasers or lessees of qualifying new vehicles or indirect purchasers of any of the replacement parts listed in Question 5 may be members of the Settlement Classes entitled to monetary recovery. Only those members of the Settlement Classes who, during the relevant time periods listed above, purchased or leased a vehicle or purchased a replacement part while (1) residing or (2) as to businesses, having the principal place of business located, in the District of Columbia or the states listed below will be entitled to share in the monetary recovery. Those states are: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. You may have seen a prior notice that indicated that members of the Settlement Classes may be entitled to monetary recovery if the purchase or lease transaction occurred in the District of Columbia or one of the listed states. Please note that the prior information as to the place of the purchase or lease transaction is superseded by this notice.

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The Settlement Classes do not include:

• Any of the Defendants, their parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates;
• Any co-conspirators;
• Federal government entities and instrumentalities;
• States and their political subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities; and
• All persons who purchased their vehicle parts directly from the Defendants or for resale.

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Settlements have been reached with the Settling Defendants as specified in the individual Settlement Agreements. The lawsuits will continue against the remaining Defendants who have not settled (“Non-Settling Defendants”).

Additional money may become available in the future as a result of a trial or future Settlements. Alternatively, the litigation may be resolved in favor of the Non-Settling Defendants, and no additional money may become available. There is no guarantee as to what will happen.

Please file a claim or register to be notified about any future Settlements.

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The Round 3 Settlements totaling $432,823,040 are now being presented to the Court for approval. The Court has already approved the Round 1 Settlements, totaling $224,668,350 in 19 cases and the Round 2 Settlements, totaling $379,401,268 in 27 cases. Together, the Round 1 through 3 Settlement Funds total approximately $1.04 billion. After deduction of attorneys’ fees, notice and claims administration costs, and litigation expenses, as approved by the Court, the Net Settlement Funds will be available for distribution to members of the Settlement Classes who timely file valid claims.

The Settlements also include non-monetary relief (see Question 14), including cooperation, as well as, with the exception of Eberspächer, Hitachi Metals, MAHLE Behr, NGK Spark Plugs, and NTN in Round 3 Settlements, agreements by these Settling Defendants not to engage in the conduct that is the subject of the lawsuits, as more fully described in the proposed Final Judgments located on the Court Documents page.

The Settlement Funds are allocated to the relevant vehicle component cases as follows:

Auto Parts Round 1 Settlements and Settlement Funds

Auto Parts Round 2 Settlements and Settlement Funds

Auto Parts Round 3 Settlements and Settlement Funds

Any interest earned will be added to each of the Settlement Funds. More details about the Settlements are provided in the Settlement Agreements, available on the Court Documents page of this website.

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You may be entitled to a portion of the Settlement Funds when a distribution is made to members of the Settlement Classes. If you excluded or exclude yourself from any of the Settlement Classes in the Round 1 through Round 3 Settlements, you will not receive a payment from those funds.

However, you will be required to submit a Claim Form to be eligible to receive a payment from any of the Settlement Funds. No deadline has been set yet by the Court for the submission of claims, but you can file your claim now. Claims may be submitted on this website or by printing and mailing your completed form to:

Auto Parts Claims Administrator
P.O. Box 10163
Dublin, OH 43017-3163

You may also call 1-877-940-5043 or write the Claims Administrator at the address above to obtain a Claim Form.

If you submit a Claim Form or register at the Settlement website, you will receive future notifications containing additional important information, including information about any future Settlements.

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The amount of your recovery will be determined by the Plan of Allocation, which is available on the Court Documents page.

The Court previously approved a Plan of Allocation to distribute the Net Settlement Funds from the Round 1 and Round 2 Settlements to the members of those Settlement Classes. Settlement Class Counsel have proposed that the Court approve the same Plan of Allocation to apply to the Round 3 Settlements.

According to the proposed Plan of Allocation, Payments will be distributed proportionally (or made on a pro rata basis) to members of the Settlement Classes who submit claims that are allowed by the Court. The payment amount will be based on a ratio consisting of the claimant’s total number of vehicles purchased or leased or replacement parts purchased, and the total number of vehicles purchased or leased and replacement parts purchased by other claimants. Claims based on vehicles containing automotive parts that were allegedly specifically targeted by Defendants’ alleged collusive conduct may receive more money. The amount of money members of the Settlement Classes are eligible to receive is based on information obtained by Class Counsel during discovery as well as the cooperation provided by the Settling Defendants from each Round.

At this time, it is unknown how much each member of the Settlement Classes who submits a valid claim will receive. Payments will be based on a number of factors, including at least the number of valid claims filed by all members of the Settlement Class and the number of (1) qualifying new vehicles purchased or leased or (2) qualifying replacement parts purchased. It is possible that any money remaining after claims are paid will be distributed to charities, governmental entities, or other beneficiaries approved by the Court. No matter how many claims are filed, no money will be returned to the Settling Defendants after the Court finally approves the Round 3 Settlements.

In order to receive a payment from any of the Settlements (Round 1 through Round 3), you will need to file a valid Claim Form. If you want to be kept updated about any future settlements, you should register or file a Claim Form. If you already submitted a Claim Form, you do not need to file another claim for that specific vehicle or replacement part. However, if you purchased additional vehicles or replacement parts, which were not mentioned in your previous Claim Form, you should file a new Claim Form for the additional vehicles or replacement parts.

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Payments may be distributed to members of the Settlement Classes after the Court grants final approval to the Round 3 Settlements and any appeals from such approvals are resolved. Appeals can take several years to conclude.

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With the exception of Eberspächer, Hitachi Metals, MAHLE Behr, NGK Spark Plugs, and NTN, the Round 3 Settling Defendants have agreed not to engage in certain specified conduct that would violate the antitrust laws that are at issue in these lawsuits for a period of two years. Additionally, all of the Settling Defendants will cooperate with the Plaintiffs in their ongoing litigation against the Non-Settling Defendants.

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If the Round 3 Settlements become final, you will give up your right to sue these Settling Defendants on your own for the claims described in the Settlement Agreements unless you exclude yourself from one or more of the Settlement Classes. You also will be bound by any decisions by the Court relating to any Round 3 Settlements from which you do not exclude yourself.

In return for paying the Settlement amounts and providing the non-monetary benefits, the Settling Defendants (and certain related entities defined in the Settlement Agreements) will be released from claims relating to the alleged conduct involving the vehicle parts identified in the Settlement Agreements. The Settlement Agreements describe the released claims in detail, so read them carefully since those releases will be binding on you if the Court approves the Round 3 Settlements. If you have any questions, you can talk to Class Counsel listed in Question 19 for free, or you can, of course, talk to your own lawyer (at your own expense). The Settlement Agreements and the specific releases are available on the Court Documents page.

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The deadline to exclude yourself from one or more of the Round 3 Settlement Classes has passed. If you did not timely request to be excluded from the Round 1 or Round 2 Settlement Classes, you may not request to be excluded from those Settlement Classes at this time. Any request for exclusion needed to have been mailed to the address below and must have been received no later than July 13, 2018:

Automotive Parts Indirect Exclusions
c/o GCG
P.O. Box 10163
Dublin, OH 43017-3163

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No. Unless you excluded yourself, you gave up any right to sue the Round 3 Settling Defendants for the claims being released in this litigation.

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No. If you excluded yourself from the Settlement Classes in any of the Round 3 Settlements, you will not get any money as a result of the Settlement in that case. However, you may excluded yourself from one or more of the Settlement Classes for any of the Round 3 Settlements, but remain in the Settlement Classes for other Round 3 Settlements. In that case, you may receive money from the Settlements for the Settlement Classes in which you remain a Class member.

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The Court has appointed the following law firms as Settlement Class Counsel to represent you and all other members of the Classes:

You will not be charged for contacting these lawyers. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

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At the upcoming final fairness hearing, Class Counsel may ask the Court (a) to reimburse them for certain costs and expenses, and (b) for attorneys’ fees based on their services in this litigation, not to exceed 25% of the approximately $432,823,040 in additional Settlement Funds resulting from the Round 3 Settlements after deducting reimbursable litigation costs and expenses. Any payment to the attorneys will be subject to Court approval, and the Court may award less than the requested amount. The attorneys’ fees, costs, and litigation expenses that the Court orders, plus the costs to administer the Round 3 Settlements, will come out of the Settlement Funds. Class Counsel may seek additional attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses from any additional Settlements or recoveries obtained in the future.

When Class Counsel’s motion for fees, costs and expenses is filed, it will be available on this website. The motion will be posted on the website at least 45 days before the Court holds a hearing to consider the request, and at least 28 days before the deadline for any objections to or comments on the motion, from members of the Settlement Classes, to be received (see Question 21).

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The deadline to object to any aspect of the Round 3 Settlements has passed. To object to or comment on a Round 3 Settlement, the Plan of Allocation, or the motion for attorneys’ fees, you must have mailed your written comment or objection to both of the addresses listed immediately below, so that they were received by both the Clerk of the Court and the Settlement Administrator no later than July 13, 2018:

Any objection or comment also needed to be filed with the Court on or before July 13, 2018. In the case file (or docket) of the specific automotive parts case or cases that are the subject of your objection or comments. Objections or comments filed only in In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation (the Master Docket, 2:12-md-02311), will not satisfy this requirement.

You will not have an opportunity to speak at the Court’s Fairness Hearing (see Question 23) unless you submitted a complete, valid, and timely written objection.

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If you exclude yourself from one or more of the Round 3 Settlement Classes, you are telling the Court that you do not want to participate in the Round 3 Settlement(s) from which you exclude yourself. Therefore, you will not be eligible to receive any payment from those Round 3 Settlement(s), and you will not be able to object to them. Objecting to a Round 3 Settlement simply means telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. Objecting does not make you ineligible to receive a payment.

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The Court will hold a Final Fairness Hearing at 10:00 a.m. on August 1, 2018, at the United States Courthouse, 231 W. Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226, Room 272. The hearing may be moved to a different date or time without additional notice, so check this website or call 1-877-940-5043 for current information. At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Round 3 Settlements and the Plan of Allocation are fair, reasonable, and adequate. If there are objections or comments, the Court will consider them at that time and may listen to people who have asked to speak at the hearing. The Court may also decide how much to pay Settlement Class Counsel. At or after the hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the Round 3 Settlements.

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No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. But you are welcome to attend at your expense. If you send an objection or comment, you do not have to come to Court to talk about it. As long as you mailed your complete and valid written objection on time, as described above in Question 21, the Court will consider it. You may also hire your own lawyer at your own expense to attend on your behalf, but you are not required to do so.

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If you send an objection or comment on the Round 3 Settlements, Plan of Allocation, or motion for attorney’s fees, as described in Question 21, you may have the right to speak at the Final Fairness Hearing as determined by the Court. You cannot speak at the hearing if you do not submit a timely written objection or comment as described in Question 21. You cannot speak at the hearing if you exclude yourself from that specific Settlement Class.

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If the cases are not dismissed or settled, the Plaintiffs will have to prove their claims against the Non- Settling Defendants at trial. Trial dates have not yet been set.

At the trial, a decision will be reached about whether the Plaintiffs or the Non-Settling Defendants are right about the claims in the lawsuits. There is no guarantee that the Plaintiffs will win any money or other benefits for Class members at trial.

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The Class representatives are asking for money for Settlement Class members in the District of Columbia and 30 states listed in Question 7 above. The Class representatives are also seeking a nationwide court order to prohibit the Non-Settling Defendants from engaging in the alleged behavior that is the subject of the lawsuits.

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If the Plaintiffs obtain money or benefits as a result of a trial or Settlement with any of the Non-Settling Defendants, then members of the Settlement Classes will be notified about how to ask for a share or what their other options are at that time. That information will be available on this website. These things are not known right now.

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This website and the Notice summarize the Settlements. More details are in the Settlement Agreements. You can get copies of the Settlement Agreements and more information about the Settlements on the Court Documents page of this website. In addition, the full Plan of Allocation is available here. You also may write with questions to Auto Parts Settlements, c/o GCG, P.O. Box 10163, Dublin, OH 43017-3163 or call the toll-free number, 1-877-940-5043. You should also file a claim or register to be directly notified of any future settlements, the terms of the Plan of Allocation, how to file a Claim Form, and other information concerning these cases.

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