Optical Disk Drive Buyers Win Class Certification

Purchasers alleging they bought optical disk drives indirectly from cartel conspirators convinced a federal court to certify their class on their second attempt, breathing new life into the litigation (In re Optical Disk Drive Antitrust Litig., N.D. Cal., 3:10-cv-02143, 2/8/16).

Judge Richard Seeborg had previously denied class certification to the direct purchaser and indirect purchaser classes because they failed to show they can prove injury or damages as a class.

Following that loss, the direct purchasers settled for around $37 million.

After settling with some defendants, however, the indirect purchasers reasserted their class certification motion—this time with ...