Grabar Law Office has filed a putative class action on behalf of a class of all persons and entities in the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia similarly situated (the “Class”) for damages and injunctive relief under Sections 1 and 3 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 1 and 3) against defendants Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.; Murata Electronics North America, Inc.; Panasonic Corporation; Panasonic Corporation of North America; Panasonic Electronic Devices Co. Ltd; Panasonic Electronic Devices Corporation of America; Sumida Corporation; Sumida Electric Co., Ltd.; Sumida America Components, Inc.; Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.; Taiyo Yuden (U.S.A.) Inc.; TDK Corporation; TDK-EPC Corporation; TDK Corporation of North America; and TDK U.S.A. Corporation (collectively “Defendants”). This action is based on an alleged scheme by Defendants to fix prices of Inductors (1) that were sold to or billed to persons or entities in the United States during the period from at least January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2016 (the “Class Period”), or (2) where, during the Class Period, the conduct alleged herein had a direct, substantial, or reasonably foreseeable effect on United States commerce.
Inductors are electronic components that store energy in the form of a magnetic field. Along with resistors (a component having a specific amount of resistance to the flow of an electrical current) and capacitors (a two-terminal electronic component that stores potential energy in the form of an electrical field), Inductors are viewed as part of the category of “passive electronic components.” Inductors are found in a wide variety of electronic equipment, including: (a) smartphones and other types of consumer electronic equipment; (b) advanced driver assistance systems (“ADAS”) used in vehicles; (c) induction motors that are used in industry to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy; and (d) various military, naval, and air force equipment ranging from missile systems to radars and sonars.
This action follows reports that certain Japanese companies have received investigative subpoenas from the U.S. Department of Justice looking into potential market price-fixing activity over Inductors, as well as pending Department of Justice probes into two other electric circuit components — capacitors and resistors.
The case is Powerweb, Inc., et al. v. Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., et al. 3:18cv00349 (N.D. Cal.).
If you believe that you were impacted by this alleged conspiracy and would like to learn more, contact us today.
