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The linear resistors class action alleges that the Defendants unlawfully conspired to fix, increase, and/or maintain the price of linear resistors sold in Canada between at least as early as July 9, 2003 and up September 14, 2015.

Linear resistors are a common electrical component used to regulate current in an electrical circuit. Almost all electronic products contain linear resistors – often thousands of them. Linear resistors are found in cellular phones, computer motherboards, television sets, and a number of other electronic products.

Developments

Settlements

Settlements have been reached with all defendants totaling approximately $8.97 million:

  • Panasonic Corporation, Panasonic Corporation of North America, and Panasonic Canada Inc. (collectively "Panasonic") (CDN$2,350,000);
  • Kamaya Electric Co., Ltd and Kamaya, Inc. (collectively "Kamaya") (CDN$770,000);
  • ROHM Co. Ltd and ROHM Semiconductor U.S.A. Inc., LLC (collectively “ROHM”) (CDN$1,550,000);
  • Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., and HDK America Inc. (collectively “HDK”) (CDN$910,750);
  • KOA Corporation and KOA Speer Electronics, Inc. (collectively “KOA”) (CDN$3,300,000); and
  • Susumu Co., Ltd. and Susumu International (USA) Inc. (collectively “Susumu”) (CDN$90,000).

The Panasonic, Kamaya, ROHM and HDK settlements have been approved by the requisite Courts.

The settlements with KOA and Susumu are subject to court approval. There will be settlement approval hearings in Ontario, British Columbia and Québec for the KOA settlement, and in Ontario and Québec for the Susumu settlement. These hearings are to take place at:

  • the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on February 26, 2025 at 10:00 am by virtual hearing;;
  • the British Columbia Supreme Court on March 11, 2025 at 9:00 am, in person at 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2E1 (KOA only); and
  • the Superior Court of Québec on April 8, 2025 at 9:30 am at 1, rue Notre-Dame Est, Montréal, Québec, Room 17.09, and by virtual hearing.

A copy of the Notice of Hearing can be found here.

The settlement funds (plus interest, less court-approved fees and expenses) are being held in trust for the benefit of settlement class members. At a later date, the courts will be asked to approve a method of distributing the settlement funds to settlement class members.

Contested Litigation

The action was discontinued as against the following defendants:

  • Yageo Corporation and Yageo America Corporation;
  • Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Murata Electronics North America, Inc.;
  • Alps Electric Co., Ltd and Alps Electric (North America), Inc.;
  • Midori Precisions Co., Ltd. and Midori America Corporation;
  • Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co., and TOCOS America, Inc.; and
  • Visay Intertechnology, Inc.

Leave was also granted to delete Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Company of America from the action. Please click here to view the January 31, 2020 Order and related Decision. Please click here to view the July 22, 2021 Order and related Decision.

If the KOA and Susumu settlements are approved, they will resolve the class action in its entirety.

FAQs

What is a Class Action?

A class action is a lawsuit that is brought by one or more persons on behalf of a larger group of people whose claims share common legal and/or factual issues. Class actions provide a cost-effective way for groups of people with common interests to pursue a legal claim.

What does “certification” mean?

Certification is the motion where the court determines whether the action can properly be pursued as a class action. The court will consider factors such as whether the claims of the class members raise common legal and/or factual issues and whether a class action is the preferable method of pursuing the claims (as opposed to other methods, such as individual actions).

Do I have to pay anything to participate in the class action?

Class action lawyers are usually paid on a contingency basis. This means that class counsel are only paid if successful. Class counsel are paid a percentage of any settlement or court award. Class counsel fees are subject to court approval.

Who is affected by the Resistors class action?

You are affected by the class action and are a “member” of the class if you are a person in Canada who purchased linear resistors or products containing linear resistors between July 9, 2003 and September 14, 2015.

Can I join the class action?

There are no steps required to “join” the class action. Assuming you fall within the scope of the class definition, you are automatically included in the class action unless you “opt-out” (exclude yourself from the class action).

Can I exclude myself from the class action?

The time to opt-out of the action has passed.

What should I do to protect my rights?

To protect your rights, you should:

  1. Keep records of any purchases of linear resistors or products containing resistors, purchased between July 9, 2003 and September 14, 2015.
  2. Register to receive updates on this case by filling out the form below.

I still have a question. Who should I contact?

If you have any other questions, please complete the contact form below.

Documents

New Settlements

 

Previous Settlements

Settlement Agreements

Orders (Ontario Action)

Orders (Quebec Action)

Orders (British Columbia Action)

Contested Litigation

Settlements

Settlements have been reached with all defendants totaling approximately $8.97 million:

  • Panasonic Corporation, Panasonic Corporation of North America, and Panasonic Canada Inc. (collectively "Panasonic") (CDN$2,350,000);
  • Kamaya Electric Co., Ltd and Kamaya, Inc. (collectively "Kamaya") (CDN$770,000);
  • ROHM Co. Ltd and ROHM Semiconductor U.S.A. Inc., LLC (collectively “ROHM”) (CDN$1,550,000);
  • Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., and HDK America Inc. (collectively “HDK”) (CDN$910,750);
  • KOA Corporation and KOA Speer Electronics, Inc. (collectively “KOA”) (CDN$3,300,000); and
  • Susumu Co., Ltd. and Susumu International (USA) Inc. (collectively “Susumu”) (CDN$90,000).

The Panasonic, Kamaya, ROHM and HDK settlements have been approved by the requisite Courts.

The settlements with KOA and Susumu are subject to court approval. There will be settlement approval hearings in Ontario, British Columbia and Québec for the KOA settlement, and in Ontario and Québec for the Susumu settlement. These hearings are to take place at:

  • the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on February 26, 2025 at 10:00 am by virtual hearing;;
  • the British Columbia Supreme Court on March 11, 2025 at 9:00 am, in person at 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2E1 (KOA only); and
  • the Superior Court of Québec on April 8, 2025 at 9:30 am at 1, rue Notre-Dame Est, Montréal, Québec, Room 17.09, and by virtual hearing.

A copy of the Notice of Hearing can be found here.

The settlement funds (plus interest, less court-approved fees and expenses) are being held in trust for the benefit of settlement class members. At a later date, the courts will be asked to approve a method of distributing the settlement funds to settlement class members.

Contested Litigation

The action was discontinued as against the following defendants:

  • Yageo Corporation and Yageo America Corporation;
  • Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Murata Electronics North America, Inc.;
  • Alps Electric Co., Ltd and Alps Electric (North America), Inc.;
  • Midori Precisions Co., Ltd. and Midori America Corporation;
  • Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co., and TOCOS America, Inc.; and
  • Visay Intertechnology, Inc.

Leave was also granted to delete Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Company of America from the action. Please click here to view the January 31, 2020 Order and related Decision. Please click here to view the July 22, 2021 Order and related Decision.

If the KOA and Susumu settlements are approved, they will resolve the class action in its entirety.

What is a Class Action?

A class action is a lawsuit that is brought by one or more persons on behalf of a larger group of people whose claims share common legal and/or factual issues. Class actions provide a cost-effective way for groups of people with common interests to pursue a legal claim.

What does “certification” mean?

Certification is the motion where the court determines whether the action can properly be pursued as a class action. The court will consider factors such as whether the claims of the class members raise common legal and/or factual issues and whether a class action is the preferable method of pursuing the claims (as opposed to other methods, such as individual actions).

Do I have to pay anything to participate in the class action?

Class action lawyers are usually paid on a contingency basis. This means that class counsel are only paid if successful. Class counsel are paid a percentage of any settlement or court award. Class counsel fees are subject to court approval.

Who is affected by the Resistors class action?

You are affected by the class action and are a “member” of the class if you are a person in Canada who purchased linear resistors or products containing linear resistors between July 9, 2003 and September 14, 2015.

Can I join the class action?

There are no steps required to “join” the class action. Assuming you fall within the scope of the class definition, you are automatically included in the class action unless you “opt-out” (exclude yourself from the class action).

Can I exclude myself from the class action?

The time to opt-out of the action has passed.

What should I do to protect my rights?

To protect your rights, you should:

  1. Keep records of any purchases of linear resistors or products containing resistors, purchased between July 9, 2003 and September 14, 2015.
  2. Register to receive updates on this case by filling out the form below.

I still have a question. Who should I contact?

If you have any other questions, please complete the contact form below.

New Settlements

 

Previous Settlements

Settlement Agreements

Orders (Ontario Action)

Orders (Quebec Action)

Orders (British Columbia Action)

Contested Litigation

Contact Us

Join to stay informed about the progress of this class action.

Your information will be maintained and used in accordance with our privacy notice. Completing this form does not create a lawyer-client relationship with Siskinds LLP or Siskinds Desmeules s.e.n.c.r.l. or any of their personnel, nor does it impose any obligations related to the class action or otherwise.

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