New Car Class Action Settlements with Toyota and CADA

Washington, DC: Two proposed partial settlements of several class action lawsuits involving Toyota and the Canadian Automobile Dealer's Association (CADA) have been reached. The lawsuits allege certain automakers and trade associations conspired in violation of federal and state antitrust and consumer protection laws to prevent virtually identical, but cheaper, new cars from being exported to the United States from Canada, making new vehicle prices higher for U.S. consumers.

The settling defendants are Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. ("Toyota") and the Canadian Automobile Dealers' Association. The settlements are pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. Toyota and CADA assert that they have acted lawfully and independently and that there is no legal or factual basis for these lawsuits.

Toyota has agreed to pay $35 million for the benefit of a Class of people or businesses who bought or leased a new vehicle from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2006. CADA has agreed to pay $700,000 for the benefit of the Class. Both Toyota and CADA have agreed not to conspire with others or share certain types of information with other automakers aimed at preventing Canadian new vehicles from entering the United States. If you bought or leased a new car between January 1, 2001 and April 30, 2003, you may be able to receive a payment from these settlements. Plaintiffs' attorneys will seek reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs and payment of attorneys' fees in a requested amount not to exceed 30% of the settlement proceeds plus interest.

To make a claim for money from the Canadian Export Antitrust CADA class action lawsuit settlement, you must meet the following requirements:

(I) You purchased or leased a new motor vehicle (passenger car, light truck or SUV) during the period January 1, 2001 to April 30, 2003;

(II) You currently reside or have your principal place of business in the United States; and

(III) At the time you purchased or leased the new vehicle, you resided or had your principal place of business in one of the following "Eligible States": Arizona, Arkansas, California, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia or Wisconsin;

(IV) You purchased or leased the vehicle from an auto dealer located in an Eligible State; and

(V) The vehicle you purchased or leased was one of the following makes: Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes, Mercury, Mini, Nissan, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Toyota, Volkswagen or Volvo.

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Published on Jan-10-11