Sony Agrees to Settle Antitrust Claims in Lithium-Ion Battery MDL for $19 Million

On February 16, 2016, Sony became the first defendant to settle claims in the multidistrict litigation (MDL) alleging that lithium-ion battery makers including Sony, Toshiba Corp., NEC Corp and LG Chem America and others, violated antitrust laws by fixing the prices of lithium-ion batteries sold to both direct purchasers and consumers. The litigation was consolidated into an MDL in California federal court under U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in 2014.

In the settlement agreement, Sony agreed to pay $19 million to direct purchasers of its lithium-ion batteries. Direct purchasers of Sony lithium-ion batteries include the now-closed electronic store, Circuit City, which purchased the product from January 2000 to May 2011. Sony has asked Judge Gonzalez Rogers to officially certify a nationwide class in order for the company to organize the allocation of settlement funds. A hearing for preliminary approval of the Sony settlement has been scheduled for March 22, 2016. 

Sony is still required to cooperate in the litigation against the remaining defendants. Many believe that Sony’s willingness to settle is an indication that other defendants will be more willing to consider settling as well.

The Case Is: In re: Lithium Ion Batteries Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 4:13-md-02420, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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