FAQ

1. What is a Class Action?

A class action is a lawsuit filed by one person on behalf of a large group of people with the same concerns.

2. What is the Canadian CRT Class Action About?

Class actions were commenced in Canada alleging that the Defendants unlawfully conspired to fix prices for CRTs and CRT Products. CRTs were commonly used in televisions and computer monitors. CRTs have now largely been replaced by flat-panel technology, including LCDs and plasmas.

3. What are CRT and CRT Products?

A CRT (cathode ray tube) is a display device commonly used in televisions and computer monitors. CRT has now largely been replaced by flat-panel technology, including LCDs and plasmas.

For the purpose of this claims website, the following definitions apply:

  • CRT means colour picture tubes (“CPT”) and colour display tubes (“CDT”) purchased for inclusion in televisions or computer monitors.
  • CRT Products means CRT, CRT televisions, and CRT computer monitors.

4. Who are the Defendants?

The Defendants in the Canadian CRT class action are:

  • Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd. and Chunghwa Picture Tubes (Malaysia) SDN. BHD
  • Panasonic Corporation (f/k/a Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.), Panasonic Corporation of North America, Panasonic Canada Inc., MT Picture Display Co., Ltd.), and Beijing Matsushita Color CRT Company, Ltd.
  • Toshiba Corporation, Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc., Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., and Toshiba of Canada Limited.
  • Japan Display Inc. (f/k/a Hitachi Displays Ltd.), Hitachi Asia, Ltd., Hitachi America, Ltd., Hitachi Electronic Devices (USA), Inc., and Hitachi Canada, Ltd.
  • LG Electronics, Inc., LG Electronics USA, Inc., LG Electronics Canada, and LG Electronics Taiwan Taipei Co., Ltd.
  • Philips North America LLC (f/k/a Philips Electronics North America Corporation), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (f/k/a Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.), Philips Electronics Ltd., Philips Taiwan Limited (f/k/a Philips Electronics Industries (Taiwan) Ltd.) and Philips do Brasil Ltda. (f/k/a Philips da Amazonia Industria Electronica Ltda.))
  • Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Samsung Electronics America Inc., and Samsung Electronics Canada Inc., Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. (f/k/a Samsung Display Device Co.), Samsung SDI America, Inc., Samsung SDI Mexico S.A. de C.V., Shenzhen Samsung SDI Co. Ltd., Tianjin Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., and Samsung SDI Brasil Ltda.
  • Irico Group Corporation, Irico Group Electronics Co. Ltd., and Irico Display Devices Co., Ltd.
  • Samtel Color, Ltd.
  • Shenzhen SEG Hitachi Color Display Devices, Ltd.

5. What settlements have been achieved in this class action?

Settlements totalling CAD $49.8 million were reached with seven groups of Defendants.

Defendant Group Settlement Amount
Chunghwa CAD $2,000,000
Panasonic CAD $4,150,000
Toshiba USD $2,950,000
Hitachi USD $2,050,000
LG Electronics CAD $7,750,000
Philips CAD $12,396,500
Samsung SDI CAD $16,980,000

Class counsel fees and expenses, fees and expenses for administration costs and for notice have been approved by the courts and will be deducted from the settlement funds. The remaining settlement funds will be available to pay claims from qualified people who file valid claims.

6. Am I eligible to receive a payment from the settlements?

You are a “Settlement Class Member” and eligible to receive a payment if you live in Canada and you purchased CRTs, CRT televisions and/or CRT computer monitors (regardless of the manufacturer or brand) in Canada between March 1995 and November 2007. 

7. How can I apply for a payment?

You can apply for a payment by completing the online claim form by March 1, 2019. 

8. Will it cost me anything to file a claim?

It does not cost anything to file a claim. Counsel and Administration fees will be paid out of the settlement funds.

9. What is the deadline to file a claim?

Claims must be filed by no later than March 1, 2019.

10. What information do I need to provide with my claim?

The claim form will require information about you and your purchases. No documentary proof of purchase is required at this time, however, if you are selected for audit you will be required to provide additional proof of purchase.

    • Undocumented purchases: If you did not maintain proof of purchase, you can file a claim in respect of up to two undocumented CRT Products. These claims are not subject to audit and no proof of purchase will be required (unless fraud is suspected).
    • Relying on Defendants’ data: Where possible, you will be able to rely on the Defendants’ sales records to establish your purchases. If applicable, you will be sent this information by email or letter and the information pre-populated on your online claim form. If you are exclusively relying on the Defendants’ sales data to substantiate your claims, you will not be subject to audit and will not be required to provide additional proof of purchase (unless fraud is suspected).
    • Relying on personal purchase records: If there is no sales data available for your purchases of CRT Products and/or you are claiming for additional purchases of CRT Products that are not disclosed in the Defendants’ data, you will be required to describe: (a) the type of CRT Products purchased, (b) the value of the CRT Products, and (c) the capacity in which the CRT Products were purchased. If your claim is selected for audit, you will be required to provide proof of purchase.   
    • Extrapolating purchases: If you maintained purchase records for CRT Purchases for at least two years between March 1, 1995 and November 25, 2007 (“class period”), or a defendant provided your purchase information for at least two years out of the class period, you can use such records to extrapolate your CRT Purchases for the remainder of the class period.  If audited, you will be required to provide a declaration explaining the basis for and calculation of the extrapolation.

11. What if I do not have proof of purchase?

You can file claims in respect of up to two CRT Products that are not supported by documentary proof of purchase. These claims are not subject to audit.

If you file a claim for undocumented purchases, your CRT Products will be assigned the following values for the purpose of determining your total CRT Purchases:

CRT Product Value
Small CRT televisions
(screen <30", measured diagonally)
$500
Large CRT televisions
(screen ≥30", measured diagonally)
$1620
CRT Monitors $320

12. How do I know my claim was filed?

Immediately after you file your claim, a page will be displayed confirming the submission of your claim. You will also be sent a confirmation email to the email address you provided in your claim form.

If you do not receive this confirmation, please confirm that you have filled in all the required information. There will be red text on the form anywhere that information is missing. If you are still unsure whether your claim was filed, call us at 1-866-537-7270 or email us at [email protected].

13. What happens after I file a claim?

The court has appointed RicePoint Administration Inc., as the "Claims Administrator". The Claims Administrator will receive and review claims, make determinations in respect of entitlement to settlement benefits, and issue payments to eligible Settlement Class Members.

Once all claims are received and processed, decision notices will be sent to everyone who filed claims. Decision notices will be sent to the email or mailing address you provided in the claim form. If your address changes prior to receiving a decision notice, it is your responsibility to advise the Claims Administrator.

Accurate claims processing takes a significant amount of time. Your patience is appreciated.

14. What happens if my claim is selected for audit?

The Claims Administrator will notify you, by email or by regular mail, that your claim is the subject of an audit and that you are required to provide proof of purchase.

Proof of purchase might include:

  • invoices, receipts, delivery or packing slips, purchase records, historical accounting records, or comparable verification that is acceptable to the Claims Administrator;
  • a declaration attesting to the purchase and value of the purchase, together with a credit card statement, a bank statement, cancelled cheque, wire transfer confirmations, or comparable verification that is acceptable to the Claims Administrator; or
  • a declaration attesting to the purchase(s), together with proof of product registration, rebate documents that evidence the CRT Product purchased, warranty documents that evidence the CRT Product purchased, the serial number of the CRT Product(s) purchased, a repair invoice identifying the CRT Product(s), or comparable verification that is acceptable to the Claims Administrator.
  • If you have extrapolated purchase records in accordance with paragraph 26 of the Distribution Protocol, you will have to explain the basis for and calculation of the extrapolation of purchases.

Please see paragraph 39-42 of the Distribution Protocol for more information.

15. How much money will I receive?

Settlement funds will be distributed to qualifying settlement class members pro rata (proportionally) based on the value of the qualifying settlement class member’s “Notional Entitlement” (see FAQ 16) as against the value of all qualifying settlement class members’ Notional Entitlements. This means that the amount you will receive depends on the number and size of the claims filed.

Notwithstanding the above, subject to further order of the Ontario Court, settlement class members with valid claims will receive a minimum payment of $20.

16. How will my Notional Entitlement be calculated?

For the purposes of the pro rata distribution, a Settlement Class Member’s Notional Entitlement will be calculated based on: (a) The Settlement Class Member’s CRT Purchases; (b) The value of the CRT within the CRT Product; and (c) The categorization of the Settlement Class Member.

(a) The Settlement Class Member’s CRT Purchases

The Claims Administrator will calculate aggregate amount actually paid by a Settlement Class Member for CRT Products between March 1, 1995 to November 25, 2007, less any rebates, discounts, delivery or shipping charges and taxes (“CRT Purchases”) using the Defendants’ sales data and/or information provided by the Settlement Class Member.

If a Settlement Class Members claims for undocumented purchases, their CRT Purchases shall be calculated using the values listed in FAQ 11.  

(b) The value of the CRT within the CRT Product

 The following values will be applied in order to account for the value of the CRT within the CRT Product, and the stronger liability and damages case for CRTs used in monitors:

CRT Purchase

Value

CRT

100%

Small CRT televisions
(screen <30", measured diagonally)

50%
Large CRT televisions
(screen ≥30", measured diagonally)
75%
CRT monitors 85%


(c) The categorization of the Settlement Class Member

Settlement Class Members will be categorized into purchaser groups depending on their position in the distribution chain. Settlement Class Members can fall within multiple purchaser groups. The purchaser groups are as follows:

Category of Settlement Class Member

Description Value of Purchases
Direct Purchaser End User A Settlement Class Member who purchased CRT products for their own use and not for commercial resale from a Defendant or entity related to the Defendant 100%
Direct Purchaser Reseller A Settlement Class Member who purchased CRT products for commercial resale direct from a Defendant or entity related to the Defendant
25%
Other End User A Settlement Class Member who purchased CRT products for their own use and not for commercial resale, from an entity that is not a Defendant or related to a Defendant 80%
Other Reseller A Settlement Class Member who purchased CRT products for
commercial resale, from an entity that is not a Defendant or related to a Defendant
15%

Sample Calculation:

If a Direct Purchaser Reseller purchased $100,000 worth of small CRT televisions, its Notional Entitlement for the purpose of determining its prorata share of the Net Settlement Amount would be calculated as follows:

$100,000 (representing the CRT Purchases) x .5 (representing the value of the CRT within the CRT Product) x .25 (representing the categorization of the Settlement Class Member) = $12,500.

Assuming the value of all qualifying Settlement Class Members’ Notional Entitlement totaled $10 million, this Settlement Class Member would be entitled to 0.125% ($12,500/$10 million) of the Net Settlement Funds.

These numbers do not reflect the actual amount to be paid to Settlement Class Members, but rather the value of their Notional Entitlement for the purpose of determining their prorata share in the Net Settlement Amount.

17. When will I get paid?

In class actions, payment typically occurs a year after the claims deadline.

Accurate claims processing takes a significant amount of time. Your patience is appreciated.

18. Who are the lawyers representing me?

The law firm of Siskinds LLP represents Settlement Class Members in Ontario, and in provinces other than British Columbia or Quebec, as well as corporations of more than 50 employees in Quebec. Siskinds LLP can be reached at:

Telephone (toll free): 1-800-461-6166 ext. 2455
Email: [email protected]
Mail: 680 Waterloo Street, London, ON N6A 3V8 Attention: Charles Wright 

The law firm of Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman LLP represents Settlement Class Members in British Columbia. British Columbia Class Counsel can be reached at:

Telephone: 604-689-7555
Email: [email protected]
Mail: #400 - 856 Homer Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2W5 Attention: Jen Winstanley 

The law firm of Siskinds Desmeules s.e.n.c.r.l. represents individuals and corporations of 50 or less employees who are Settlement Class Members in Québec. Québec Class Counsel can be reached at:

Telephone: 418-694-2009
Email: [email protected]
Mail: Les Promenades du Vieux-Québec, 43 rue De Buade, bureau 320, Québec City, QC  G1R 4A2  Attention:  Caroline Perrault

You do not need to pay out-of-pocket for the lawyers working on the class actions. The lawyers were paid from the settlement funds in the amount approved by the courts.

19. Who has access to my information?

All information collected as part of this administration is collected, used, and retained by the Claims Administrator, Class Counsel and their agents pursuant to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, SC 2000 c 5, for the purposes of administering the CRT Canadian Price-Fixing Class Action, including evaluating your eligibility status under the settlement agreements reached with the Defendants and the distribution protocol approved by the Court. The information provided is strictly private and confidential and will not be disclosed without your express written consent, except in accordance with the settlement agreements, distribution protocol, and/or orders of the Court. More information about the Claims Administrator is available by clicking here.

20. How will I receive payment?

If you are an eligible individual claimant, you will receive payment by E-Transfer. E-Transfer is a fast, secure, convenient way to receive settlement benefits. It allows us to send funds directly to your e-mail address, and then allows you to deposit those funds using web or mobile banking. Funds sent by E-Transfer are not subject to a hold period and are available in your account immediately.

E-transfer is the most economical way to distribute settlement benefits. By keeping our administration costs low, we are able to distribute more money to eligible claimants.

If you are unable or unwilling to receive payment by E-Transfer, please contact the Claims Administrator. 

Eligible commercial claimants will receive payment by cheque.

21. What if I still have questions?

If you have further questions please contact the Claims Administrator (RicePoint Administration Inc.) at:

Email: [email protected]
Telephone (toll-free): 1-866-537-7270