Allegations of Price-Fixing by LCD Manufacturers

Professor Edward Snyder and Analysis Group were retained by a joint defense group to assess class certification. The putative class was of indirect purchasers who alleged price-fixing among LCD manufacturers. Specifically, Professor Snyder assessed whether the claims of injuries by several proposed state classes could be analyzed on a common, classwide basis. Among other analyses, Professor Snyder conducted an empirically based evaluation to determine whether direct purchasers faced a common overcharge and whether any pass-on decisions by intermediaries in the distribution chain were common to all class members based on comprehensive transaction-level data. Based on his analysis, Professor Snyder concluded that plaintiffs could not prove injury and damages on a common, classwide basis and that individualized inquiry was necessary to determine which class members were injured by the alleged conspiracy.