Case Details

Year Initiated/Committed

2013

Settlement Amount

n/a

Court

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Docket Number

3:13-cv-01877

Lead State

FL

Participating States

FL

Defendant(s)

Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.; Hitachi-LG Data Storage Korea, Inc.

Case Description

After Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc. was charged with a 15-count felony charge by the United States Department of Justice, pleaded guilty to bid-rigging and price-fixing of Optical Disc Drives (ODDs) and paid a $21.1 million criminal fine, Florida filed suit. The suit alleged that Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc. and its subsidiary, Hitachi-LG Data Storage Korea, Inc., participated in meetings, discussions, and communications to share competitively sensitive information, in order to rig bids for ODDs sold to Dell Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, and Microsoft Corporation. The state is seeking equitable relief, damages, and civil penalties for Florida consumers, businesses, and governmental entities.