In re: TFT-LCD (Flat Panel) Antitrust Litigation, No. M 07-1827 SI (May 21, 2012) (Illston, J.)
In a short order and without expressing her reasoning, Judge Illston refused to conduct separate direct purchaser and indirect purchaser trials in the LCD price-fixing class actions. The cases will instead be tried together in May. The direct case includes one defendant (Toshiba). Three defendants (AU Optronics, LG Display, and Toshiba) remain in the indirect class case.
Howard,
Can you describe this case in some more detail? Is this a federal antitrust action and a Cartwright Act case being tried together in federal court? I know nothing about the details, but it seems that the trial of the case could create an enormous mess of the sort that the Illinois Brick court sought to avoid in federal antitrust cases.
Thanks,
Steve
Steve, I’m not personally involved in the case, but my understanding is that the indirects are suing for damages under state (including California) law. I think it will be very interesting to see how the damages issues are sorted out. Howard