Class action lawsuits have been commenced in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec alleging that the Defendants conspired to fix prices in the market for Cooling Compressors (collectively, the “Class Actions”).
Cooling Compressors means hermetically sealed cooling compressors of less than one horsepower. Cooling Compressor Products means products containing Cooling Compressors. A Cooling Compressor is the component in many household and some light commercial refrigerators and freezers that provide the cooling function. Air conditioners, as well as cooling compressors used in them, are excluded.
The following entities were named as Defendants in one or more provinces in the Class Actions: Tecumseh Products of Canada Limited, Tecumseh Products Co., Tecumseh Compressors Company, Danfoss A/S, Danfoss Inc., Danfoss Commercial Compressors Ltd., Danfoss Scroll Technologies, LLC, Danfoss Turbocor Compressors, Inc., Danfoss Compressors LLC, Appliances Components Companies S.p.A., ACC USA LLC, Panasonic Corporation, Panasonic Canada Inc., Whirlpool Canada LP, Embraco North America Inc. and Whirlpool Corporation. The Defendants are manufacturers of Cooling Compressors or Cooling Compressor Products.
Developments
Settlements, which resolve the litigation in its entirety, were reached with all Defendants in the aggregate of $4,770,000 and have been approved by the Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec Courts.
The deadline for applying to receive settlement benefits has passed and all settlement funds have been distributed.