Keller Rohrback L.L.P. Investigates Conspiracy Among Manufacturers of Automobile Door Locking Mechanisms
In recent weeks, details have come to light about a conspiracy among manufacturers of automobile door locking mechanisms (technically known as Side-Door Latches and Latch Minimodules) that has had the effect of raising the price of that vital automobile component and hence of any car that includes one of those latches. Even though that price increase was generally imposed on car makers (or auto body shops and dealers in replacement parts), because an auto maker will have passed any cost increase it suffered along to buyers of new cars, residents of many states who simply purchased a new car that includes one of these locking mechanisms likely has a claim for the amount they overpaid for their car as a result of this conspiracy.
One maker of such Side-Door Latches (a German company called Kiekert AG) has already pled guilty to criminal charges associated with this price fixing scheme and has agreed to cooperate in unveiling other companies involved in the scheme. While Kiekert sold latches mostly to Ford, there is every reason to believe that other auto makers selling cars in the US (including ones who have cars made in Mexico and then imported into the US, as was true of Ford) will have been subject to this conspiracy, and therefore that the price of any new car made between approximately September of 2008 and May of 2013 will have been illegally inflated as result.
To assist our investigation about these alleged practices, we are interested in speaking with anyone who purchased a new car between September of 2008 and May of 2013. We are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who bought a new automobile in any of the following states between September 2008 and May of 2013: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia or Wisconsin.
Keller Rohrback L.L.P., a leading consumer protection firm, filed one of the first lawsuits against Volkswagen Group and its subsidiaries related to its diesel defeat device vehicles. Since then, hundreds of concerned consumers from around the country have contacted Keller Rohrback to find out what they can do to help ensure that Volkswagen and other carmakers are held responsible by compensating consumers and/or fixing polluting cars.
If you or a family member purchased a new automobile in one of the listed states between September of 2008 and May of 2013, or if you are concerned that your vehicle may be affected and have questions, please call attorney Ray Farrow at 800.776.6044 or via email at [email protected] to discuss our investigation and your potential claims against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
Keller Rohrback L.L.P., with offices in Seattle, Phoenix, New York, Montana, and Santa Barbara, serves as lead and co-lead counsel in class actions throughout the country. Our Complex Litigation Group is proud to offer its expertise to clients nationwide, and our trial lawyers have obtained judgments and settlements in excess of 18 billion dollars.
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