Ongoing Case Highlight: In re Cathode Ray Tube CRT Antitrust Litig., No. 3:07-cv-5944SC (N.D. Cal.)

Summary:

In re CRT is an antitrust action alleged against numerous manufacturers of cathode ray tubes, i.e. the tubes that were inserted in boxy television sets and monitors before flat screens became the norm. The list of defendants reads like the Who's Who of major Asian manufacturers:  Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Hitachi, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Matsushita, Samsung, Toshiba, and so on. The lead plaintiffs for the class action are individuals, electronic goods merchants, and manufacturers of monitors and television (such as Viewsonic.)

One of the major points of contention in this case has been whether an indirect purchaser of CRT--i.e. purchaser of final products containing a CRT rather than that of the product directly. 

The parties appear to be nearing settlement.  On April 29, 2016, the court issued a housekeeping order requiring the parties that settled to file the settlement agreement with the court. The order is available at 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 57612 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 29, 2016).