Sotos LLP » DuPont

Class action attacks “economic effect” of DuPont’s prices

sotos — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:11:30 +0000

Michael Osborne of Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP wrote a case comment on Axiom Plastics Inc. v. E.I. DuPont Canada Company and the certification of Tier 2 plastic auto parts manufacturers in a class action lawsuit against DuPont.

Read the article here: http://www.thelitigator.ca/index.php/2008/02/15/class-action-attacks-%E2%80%9Ceconomic-effect%E2%80%9D-of-dupont%E2%80%99s-prices/

Click here to go to the Sotos LLP DuPont Class Action web site

Court Certifies Price Fixing Class Action against DuPont

sotos — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:25:00 +0000

Court Certifies Price Fixing Class Action against DuPont Canada on Behalf of Canadian Plastics Moulders

TORONTO, December 10, 2007 / – The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has certified a class action against E.I. DuPont Canada Company on behalf of a group of Canadian manufacturers of plastic parts supplying the automotive industry. The case is the first of its kind in Canada to be certified as a class action.

The claim alleges that DuPont Canada, through its pricing system and its arrangements with its authorized distributors, set and maintained the price of specialized resins, known as ‘engineering resins’, at artificially high prices.

The action is brought by Axiom Plastics Inc. of Aurora, Ontario. Axiom moulds plastic parts which go into automotive assemblies made by major industry players such as Magna International Inc.

“Engineering resins are the single largest component in our sector’s cost of goods” says Axiom’s president, Perry Rizzo.

“We believe that DuPont Canada’s actions have harmed the competitiveness of Axiom and all Canadian plastics manufacturers competing in the international automotive market.”

In the ruling, Justice Alexandra Hoy of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice found that the main focus of the alleged conspiracy involved a system of price concessions and rebates granted by DuPont Canada to its authorized distributors which allowed DuPont Canada to effectively control the resale price of resins sold by its independent distributors. The judge noted the evidence that many of the automotive parts manufacturers are in dire financial straits and are required to compete in a fiercely competitive market.

David Sterns, one of the lawyers for Axiom, pointed out that the court’s decision represents the first class action to be certified involving the beleaguered Canadian auto parts industry.

The lawsuit is brought by the law firms of Sotos LLP and McCarthy Tétrault LLP.

For further information contact:

David Sterns, Sotos LLP, 416-977-0007,
dsterns@sotosllp.com

Jonathan C. Lisus, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, 416-601-7848,
jlisus@mccarthy.ca

To view the certification order and other documents, visit Sotos LLP’s DuPont class action web site at: http://www.sotosllp.com/class-actions/du-pont

Star: DuPont to face suit on auto parts price fixing

sotos — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:19:47 +0000

Toronto Star: “An Ontario judge is allowing a class-action lawsuit to proceed to trial against E.I. DuPont Canada Co. for alleged price fixing in the country’s auto-parts sector.”

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.thestar.com/business/article/283375

Click here to go to the Sotos LLP DuPont Class Action web site

Legal case filed against E.I. du Pont for possible price fixing

sotos — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 20:21:10 +0000

Canada Plastics: “The first steps have been taken in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice that could see E.I. du Pont Canada Company (referred to as DuPont) involved in a possible class action case alleging that the giant manufacturer and distributor of engineering resins engaged in price fixing.”

Read more at: http://www.canplastics.com/issues/story.aspx?aid=1000201619

Click here to go to the Sotos LLP DuPont cass action web site