In the late '90s, when most of us could only dream of having a thin, widescreen TV, several manufacturers were fixing prices on the LCD screens that were about to revolutionize the industry. More than a decade later, consumers who bought LCDs back then have a chance to get their money back.
According to a recently settled lawsuit, Samsung, Hitachi, and Sharp entered into a price-fixing agreement in 1999. They were later joined by companies including LG Displays, Toshiba, Chunghwa Picture Tubes, HannStar Display Corp., Chi Mei Optoelectronics, and Taiwan-based AU Optronics, which makes displays for just about every brand of TV and computer monitor.
The FBI claims that between 1999 and 2006, these companies sold a combined $71.9 billion in price-fixed panels worldwide, an estimated $23.5 billion in the U.S. alone.
Earlier this year, attorneys general for 24 states and the District of Columbia reached a $1.1 billion settlement with the manufacturers. People who resided in those states (see list below) between 1999 and 2006 and who also purchased an LCD-screen TV, monitor, or notebook computer during those years may be eligible for payouts of at least $25.
The deadline for making a claim on the settlement is December 6, 2012, so the clock is ticking. If you believe you are eligible to make a claim, go to LCDclass.com and fill in the form.
