SEATTLE, March 26, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Toyota (NYSE:TM) owners alleging that automotive part manufacturer DENSO Corporation ("DENSO") (Pink Sheets:DNZOY) (6902:JP) inflated the price of Toyota vehicles through a price-fixing scheme and is investigating whether the scheme raised the price for other vehicles, including those manufactured by General Motors, Honda and Ford.
Hagens Berman attorneys are investigating whether the alleged conspiracy to fix prices may have cost American consumers of a wide range of cars millions of dollars in the form of inflated car prices over a 10-year period.
"The Department of Justice has levied a large fine against DENSO after it plead guilty to criminal charges, but that will not restore the losses of consumers who overpaid for their vehicles," said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman. "We have already filed suit on behalf of Toyota owners, and we are widening our investigation to determine whether DENSO's scheme raised the price of other makes and models of cars throughout the United States."
According to the company's website, DENSO provides parts to the following companies:
- GM
- Chrysler
- Ford
- BMW
- Mercedes-Benz
- Toyota
- Honda
- Subaru
- Mazda
- Hino
- Suzuki
- Mitsubishi
- Nissan
- Kia
- Hyundai
- John Deere
- Chrysler
- Caterpillar
- Cummins
- CNH
- Harley-Davidson
- Perkins
- Paccar
- Volvo Trucks
- International Truck & Engine
- Polaris
- Mack Trucks
- Freightliner
Owners or lessees of vehicles manufactured by the above companies between January 2000 and February 2010 are encouraged to contact Hagens Berman to discuss whether they may have overpaid as a result of DENSO's alleged price-fixing activities.
The firm can be reached by phone at 206-623-7292 or by email at DENSO@hbsslaw.com. You can also contact the firm online by going to www.hbsslaw.com/DENSO.
DENSO recently agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges and pay a fine of $78 million stemming from its participation in an alleged conspiracy to fix prices for two types of parts; electronic control units (ECUs) and heating control panels (HCPs).
ECUs are systems that control the electronic operations within an automobile. HCPs regulate the temperature inside the vehicle.
The firm's lawsuit on behalf of Toyota owners was filed on Feb. 3, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The vehicles purchased by plaintiffs in that lawsuit include a 2005 Toyota Prius and a 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid.
U.S. and European Union authorities have been investigating a conspiracy in the market for automotive parts since at least February 2010.
About Hagens Berman
Seattle-based Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP represents workers, whistleblowers, investors and consumers in complex litigation. The firm has offices in Boston, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Founded in 1993, HBSS has been named one of the top plaintiffs' firms in the country five times by the National Law Journal. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Visit the firm's class-action law blog at www.classactionlawtoday.com.
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