AG: 10 companies in LCD price fix

LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) - The Michigan Attorney General's Office has announced a billion-dollar class action settlement concerning certain brands of LCD screens purchased between 1999 and 2006.

The Attorney General's Office said Tuesday that several companies conspired to illegally raise prices of flat LCD panels used in TV screens, computer monitors and laptops and recently settled a class action suit with the state.

According to a Tuesday release, 10 companies were involved in the price fixing scheme:

• AU Optronics Corporation
• Hitachi Ltd.
• Sharp Corporation
• Toshiba Corporation
• Samsung Electronics Corporation
• Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
• LC Electronics
• Chunghwa Picture Tubes
• HannStar Display Corporation
• Chi Mei Oproclectronics

Those with an eligible claim may receive $25, $100, $200 or more, the Attorney General's Office said. The payment amount is determined by the number of products bought.

Consumers are eligible if they lived in Michigan or 23 other states at the time the products were purchased.

The deadline to file a claim is Dec. 6, 2012, according to the Attorney General's Office. To file a claim, go to the class action suit website or call 1.855.225.1886 for more information.

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Online:

LCD class action suit website

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.