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UPDATE: Please note that the dates of the fairness hearings for Florida, New Mexico and Wisconsin Class Members have changed. The Florida Court will hold its fairness hearing on May 23, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. before the Honorable Peter R. Lopez at the Dade County Courthouse, 73 West Flagler Street, Miami, Florida 33130. The Wisconsin Court will hold its fairness hearing on May 24, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. before the Honorable Maxine White at the Circuit Court for Milwaukee County, 901 North 9th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233. The New Mexico Court will hold its fairness hearing on May 11, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. before Judge Sarah M. Singleton at the First Judicial District Court, 100 Catron Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501. The Settlement Notice contains additional information about the fairness hearings (click "Settlement Notice" on the left menu to view this document).
This website contains information about a proposed partial settlement of several class action lawsuits that allege certain automakers and trade associations conspired in violation of state antitrust and consumer protection laws to prevent virtually identical, but cheaper, new cars from being exported to the United States from Canada, making new vehicle prices higher for U.S. car buyers and lessees.
One of the defendants, General Motors of Canada, Limited (“GMCL”), has agreed to settle the claims against it. GMCL has agreed to pay $20.15 million for the benefit of a Class of people or businesses who bought or leased a new vehicle from January 1, 2001 through April 30, 2003. GMCL asserts that it has acted lawfully and independently and that there is no legal or factual basis for these lawsuits.
This settlement covers the claims of individuals and businesses who purchased or leased new passenger cars, light-duty trucks and sports utility vehicles from authorized dealers in California, Florida, New Mexico and Wisconsin (the “Eligible States”). If you bought or leased a new car in one of the Eligible States between January 1, 2001 and April 30, 2003, you may be able to receive a payment from this settlement.
The makes of the vehicles covered by this settlement are: Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes, Mercury, Mini, Nissan, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Toyota, Volkswagen or Volvo.
To view the detailed Settlement Notice, which contains information about the settlement, how to file a claim for payment, and other important information, please click here.
If you bought or leased a car from a dealer in Hawaii, Iowa, North Carolina or Washington, D.C., please click HERE to be directed to the website for separate settlements of a federal case that may cover you.
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THE SETTLEMENT:
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Submit a Claim
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This is the only way to get a payment. You can only submit a claim if you do not exclude yourself. Click here to submit your claim online.
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Object
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If you wish to object, you must write to the appropriate Court about why you don’t like the proposed settlement.
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Exclude Yourself
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If you exclude yourself, you will get no payment. Excluding yourself is the only option that allows you to bring your own lawsuit against GMCL about the same legal claims involved in these lawsuits.
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Go to a Hearing
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You may ask to speak in Court about the proposed settlement. Courts in each of the Eligible States will hold hearings on whether to approve the proposed settlement, as well as Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and unreimbursed costs.
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Do Nothing
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If you do nothing, you will get no payment. You will give up your rights against GMCL to sue it about the same legal claims involved in these lawsuits.
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These rights and options - and the deadlines to exercise them - are explained in the detailed Settlement Notice, available by clicking here.
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