Case Details

Year Initiated/Committed

1986

Year Resolved

1987

Settlement Amount

$693,591 (including $55,000 costs)

Court

U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Docket Number

B-86-613

Lead State

MD, NY, PA

Participating States

MD, NY, PA

Defendant(s)

Minolta Corporation

Case Description

Plaintiff States sought damages on behalf of their resident consumers who purchased certain Minolta products. The complaint alleged that Minolta conspired with numerous camera retailers to fix the retail prices at which the Minolta Maxxum and Minolta AF-Tele camera products were sold to the public, in violation of state and federal antitrust laws. Minolta allegedly terminated retailers who did not comply with its pricing policy. In response to termination or threats of termination, retailers agreed to comply with Minolta’s pricing policy, thus establishing a conspiracy. As part of the settlement agreement, Minolta agreed to contribute to each state an amount sufficient to pay $15.00 for every Maxxum sold and $8.00 for every AF-Tele sold within each state for the period of March 1, 1985 through March 21, 1986. After consumer claims were satisfied, each state was entitled to make claims for settlement administrative costs and expenses, and for the state’s costs and attorneys fees. The total settlement sum amounted to $638,591 in addition to $55,000 for the cost of the investigation and attorneys fees.