All parties presented their arguments in court, and currently experts are reviewing them. Three positive decisions favour the plaintiff, confirming damages in leasing and purchases. In October, the Federal Court of Justice will hear more appeals, but the plaintiff-friendly direction is clear. Most lawsuits (over 260,000 truck damages) are pending in Munich. Claim StatusMultiple lawsuits… Read more Truck Cartel, AT.39824 Update
News
UK Supreme Court’s ruling impact on litigation funding and justice
The UK Supreme Court has delivered a major blow to the litigation funding industry by ruling that agreements that entitle funders to a share of the damages awarded are unenforceable unless they comply with certain statutory requirements. The ruling affects a class action lawsuit brought by truck purchasers against truck manufacturers who had breached competition… Read more UK Supreme Court’s ruling impact on litigation funding and justice
Up-to-Date Overview: The Latest Developments in German Toll Refunds (Toll-Collect) as of July 2023
Currently, all administrative proceedings are in the “Ruhendstellung” phase, which means they are awaiting the decision of the Cologne Administrative Court in the pivotal “model” case concerning the application of the Wegekostengutachten 2013 and 2018. This decision will have a significant impact on the cases in question. Based on the responses received from BAG/BLM and… Read more Up-to-Date Overview: The Latest Developments in German Toll Refunds (Toll-Collect) as of July 2023
6 logical reasons why truck manufacturers
will not sanction companies seeking
compensation in the truck cartel case
Ever since the truck cartel scandal broke and the compensation proceedings were launched, there have been constant rumours that it is not worth claiming compensation because there could be “consequences”. We often hear that “we do not want to claim compensation because we are afraid that our good relationship with the truck dealer will be… Read more 6 logical reasons why truck manufacturers
will not sanction companies seeking
compensation in the truck cartel case
Cartelists have already set aside provisions of more than €2.5 billion
Eindhoven-based DAF Trucks reached a settlement worth €550 million in Q1 of this year with transport companies who overpaid for their trucks as a result of illegal price fixing. Paccar, which has owned DAF Trucks since 1996, made a $600 million provision to compensate transporters who filed damage claims due to the prohibited price agreements… Read more Cartelists have already set aside provisions of more than €2.5 billion
Waberer’s out of court settlement in cartel case
Transport and logistics company Waberer´s has resolved on 03.04.2023 one of the ongoing truck cartel cases through an out-of-court settlement with one of the HGV manufacturers involved. The company had initiated a compensation procedure at the Munich court in 2016 and the case had been ongoing for over 7 years.
UK Court urges for simplified approach when calculating damages
The Uk Court cautions that although they received thousands of pages of detailed expert reports on all the issues, there were certain subsidiary issues, such as Complements and Loss of Volume, where there was disproportionate time and money spent on complicated analyses that were less justified. This increases the overall costs of the proceedings and… Read more UK Court urges for simplified approach when calculating damages
Progress of our pending case in the Netherlands
The latest developments regarding DAF’s counter-submission to lawsuits in the 3rd batch, which includes our cases. Our lawyers have analysed DAF’s submission and suggested further steps. DAF is denying 100% of the claims submitted by us and other claimants. They argue that the cartel did not affect the final price and that many claims are… Read more Progress of our pending case in the Netherlands
Main issues related to expert testimony (Truck Cartel)
As we previously informed you, The Royal Mail Group and the BT have brought a follow-on claim against companies in the DAF Group for engaging in illegal price fixing. The Competition Appeal Tribunal is currently grappling with numerous issues related to expert testimony to make a ruling, as they highlighted in their broad outline: “(1) Causation… Read more Main issues related to expert testimony (Truck Cartel)
Royal Mail and BT awarded over £17.5 million in damages against DAF Trucks
The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal recently awarded Royal Mail and BT approximately £17.5 million in damages from DAF Trucks for the Trucks cartel scandal, which is the UK’s first successful follow-on damages claim in the long-running Trucks cartel scandal. The Tribunal’s decision comes after 14 years long investigation which revealed that MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz), Iveco and… Read more Royal Mail and BT awarded over £17.5 million in damages against DAF Trucks
Report on Truck Cartel February 2023
Truck Cartel, AT.39824 All parties have presented their arguments in court. The first results of the court-commissioned expert opinion have been presented and all quantum experts will review and send their statements by the end of May. Favourable Court Decisions There have been already 3 favourable decisions made. This is also unreservedly positive for the… Read more Report on Truck Cartel February 2023
In 2023 it is still not too late to act!
As you may remember the end of last year was the final deadline, and most of the claims became time-barred with the end of 2022. Yet, you can still make a claim for compensation!In order to be able to continue supporting truck owners with their damage claims, our legal team has implemented a way to… Read more In 2023 it is still not too late to act!
The current state of claims in the Netherlands
As we have recently informed you, DAF has been granted one year by the court to prepare its response to the third group action (including the LitFin lawsuit). On 7 December 2022, our attorneys received DAF’s submission. The submission is 744 pages long, excluding annexes. It appears that DAF has adopted a strategy designed to… Read more The current state of claims in the Netherlands
Current state of Toll-collect refunds in Germany
The Cologne Administrative Court has made an order* with the subject matter of the dispute: The plaintiff is seeking a partial repayment of tolls for the years 2016-2020, citing a decision of the ECJ on tolls for the years 2010/2011. The date for the hearing is set for 28 February 2023. It will be heard… Read more Current state of Toll-collect refunds in Germany
State-owned companies, municipalities and public corporations – are they really obliged to claim damages from truck manufacturers?
The question is often asked: are state-owned companies, municipalities and their municipal enterprises as well as joint-stock companies, in contrast to private companies, legally obliged to initiate compensation proceedings against cartel truck manufacturers before the end of 2022, as the owners expect? Dr. Werner A. Meier, an expert at the law firm Marzillier, Dr Meier & Dr Guntner, helped… Read more State-owned companies, municipalities and public corporations – are they really obliged to claim damages from truck manufacturers?
Judgment of the Amsterdam Court of 20.7.2022
In the Netherlands, our clients’ claims are in the third wave of plaintiffs. This allows us to follow the development of the case for the two groups of plaintiffs that will be tried before us and to prepare ourselves better. Our Dutch lawyers are therefore following the judgments of the Amsterdam court and evaluating what… Read more Judgment of the Amsterdam Court of 20.7.2022
European Court of Justice ruled: Special vehicles such as waste collection trucks are also subject to the truck cartel
On 01 August 2022, the ECJ clarified that refuse collection trucks and other special vehicles are to be included in the compensation under the truck cartel in the same way as other trucks. The Court thus followed the Advocate General’s Opinion (Case C-588/20, Landkreis Northeim) and rejected all objections raised by the cartelists. The truck makers wanted a declaration that… Read more European Court of Justice ruled: Special vehicles such as waste collection trucks are also subject to the truck cartel
Mercedes has set aside reserves of more than €1 billion in preparation for litigation and legal risks
Although truck manufacturers are extremely low-key (for understandable reasons) about the ongoing claims for damages by the truck cartel, in the background they have already had to reckon with the probably inevitable consequences. At least, this is indicated by the Mercedes Benz Group’s financial statements, in which it has already set aside a substantial reserve (more than 1 billion… Read more Mercedes has set aside reserves of more than €1 billion in preparation for litigation and legal risks
Only 4 months left to act for those who want to get compensation
The explosion in costs and fuel prices that is taking place in Europe before our eyes is putting an extraordinary strain on truck operators, adding to the inevitable wage increases of recent years. It is safe to say that businesses have been unable to pass on these increased costs in full due to increasingly fierce market competition. Very few options are… Read more Only 4 months left to act for those who want to get compensation
Defeat for Mercedes. Motions to bias against the presiding judge rejected.
Update: The motion for bias filed by Mercedes at the Dortmund Regional Court, Case No. 8 O 4/18 were dismissed. The Dortmund Regional Court was originally scheduled to pronounce a judgment against truck manufacturer Mercedes in an ongoing truck antitrust case in January 2022, but Mercedes wanted to use any means necessary to torpedo this in order to escape the threat of a conviction. Mercedes therefore felt compelled to resort… Read more Defeat for Mercedes. Motions to bias against the presiding judge rejected.
DAF has filed a motion to join the other truck manufacturers in the proceedings in the Netherlands
Counterparty’s procedural steps During the proceedings, DAF filed a motion to join the other truck manufacturers in the proceedings in respect of our claim. DAF has already made such a request, but this request has not yet been decided upon as the proceedings have been transferred to the District Court of Amsterdam. In contrast to… Read more DAF has filed a motion to join the other truck manufacturers in the proceedings in the Netherlands
ECJ puts the plaintiffs in the Truck Cartel in an even more favourable position
The ECJ (Court of Justice of the European Union) has now confirmed that the limitation period only starts to run in 2017 (the year of publication of the Commission’s decision) and not already in 2016 (the year of the press release). ECJ held: “In those circumstances, it cannot reasonably be considered that in the present case, the elements necessary… Read more ECJ puts the plaintiffs in the Truck Cartel in an even more favourable position
Truck Cartel legal action – A comparison of cases in the UK and Germany
After several years of uneventful waiting, recent developments in the RHA case have brought truck cartel compensation back to the spotlight in the UK. For those who may have missed the latest news, a ruling by the Competition Appeal Tribunal on 8 June 2022 has given the Road Haulage Association the right to pursue its collective action on behalf of hauliers… Read more Truck Cartel legal action – A comparison of cases in the UK and Germany
Scania has filed an appeal
As we reported earlier, the European Commission imposed a fine of € 880 million on Scania in Truck Cartel case in 2017 after Scania, unlike the 5 other truck makers, did not cooperate in the investigation of the fraud. Scania’s claim against the European Commission was dismissed in its entirety on 02 February 2022, Case T-799/17. Scania has now taken the final option of… Read more Scania has filed an appeal
The chronological history of the Truck Cartel
The (price-fixing) Truck Cartel lasted formally for 14 years from 17.01.1997 until 18.01.2011 and was only revealed to the public years later in 2014. The generally accepted view in the field is that damage can be detected up to the end of 2014, with some going further and predicting 2015 as the final date, but even the most conservative experts are betting… Read more The chronological history of the Truck Cartel
Latest decision: waste collection trucks and other special purpose trucks are also entitled for compensation
On 24th of February, the Advocate General made it clear in her decision that refuse trucks and other special purpose trucks should be considered just the same as general purpose trucks in the truck cartel compensation process. The early March published Opinion (Case C-588/20, Landkreis Northeim) details the facts and the legal reasons in 15 pages, while rejecting the truck manufacturers’ defence that these trucks with special construction… Read more Latest decision: waste collection trucks and other special purpose trucks are also entitled for compensation
Required documents for the Financing Agreement and the Sale of Claims
Invoices or leasing contracts (scan copy). Both purchase, hire purchase, leasing and long-term rental are eligible. It is important that the chassis number of the vehicle is listed on the documents. In the case of a leasing or hire agreement, the total amount, including the down payment, all monthly instalments and any residual value, must be clearly visible. Copy of the vehicle registration document (if available) Extract from the commercial register It… Read more Required documents for the Financing Agreement and the Sale of Claims
It’s still not late to get compensation at German Courts
In many EU member states, it is no longer possible to claim compensation for truck cartel damages at court. Reason for that is, that although the EU requires legal harmonisation at a basic level (this means that the EU decision to pay compensation is, binding), but the calculation of the limitation periods (time-barring in other words) has been left to… Read more It’s still not late to get compensation at German Courts
Good news for non-EU truck owners in truck cartel compensation case
From the outset, the whole procedure has only allowed companies based in the EU to claim compensation. From a legal point of view, this is an understandable limitation, as the European Commission’s resolution did not provide a stable legal basis for initiating proceedings outside the EU and investors were reluctant to take on this significantly higher risk. Understandable, but unfair from… Read more Good news for non-EU truck owners in truck cartel compensation case
The European Court has dismissed Scania’s lawsuit and upheld the € 880 million fine
As previously reported, Scania has tried to go its own way in the truck cartel process, unlike other truck manufacturers. In its 42-page ruling published on 2nd February 2022, the European Court clearly rejected this option. According to the European Commission’s investigation, the leading truck manufacturers DAF, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes (Daimler), Renault, Scania and Volvo operated an illegal cartel between 1997 and… Read more The European Court has dismissed Scania’s lawsuit and upheld the € 880 million fine
Status report truck cartel lawsuits in the Netherlands January 2022
On 20th September 2021, our Dutch advocates (from law firm STEK)attended the formal hearing of the Amsterdam District Court. The court discussed a number of procedural issues that were important for the proceedings but also time-consuming. At this point we would like to point out two important facts on which an agreement has been reached: Our cases have landed in… Read more Status report truck cartel lawsuits in the Netherlands January 2022
Status report truck cartel lawsuits in Germany, January 2022
On 23 September 2021, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), Case No. KZR 35/19, ruled on fundamental liability and fully confirmed the legal opinion of the plaintiffs. There was not only an exchange of information, but – as emphasised in several sections – even a price cartel, i.e. a hard-core cartel, and thus the worst violation of competition, as also bindingly… Read more Status report truck cartel lawsuits in Germany, January 2022
Is Mercedes grasping at straws? Motion of bias against the presiding judge.
Update 2: Defeat for Mercedes. Motions to bias against the presiding judge rejected. Update 1: According to information from the Dortmund District Court, no decision has yet been made on the bias applications as of 01 April 2022. The Dortmund District Court was supposed to deliver its verdict against truck manufacturer Daimler in January 2022 in the pending… Read more Is Mercedes grasping at straws? Motion of bias against the presiding judge.
Was the truck purchased new directly or via a wholesale company – in both cases there is a claim to the refund
In the second ruling on the Truck Cartel, BGH KZR 19/20, the Federal Court of Justice clarifies that the factual assumption also applies in the case of an indirect, third-party purchases. Because the legally independent wholesalers were involved in the distribution in a systematic and continuous manner, the defendants are denied the right to negate liability on the basis of this fact. The Federal Court of Justice took… Read more Was the truck purchased new directly or via a wholesale company – in both cases there is a claim to the refund
Yet another Higher Regional Court decision in favour of the Truck Buyers
With the decision of the 1st Cartel Senate of the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt, 5 August 2021 *, another Higher Regional Court has now joined the plaintiff-friendly judicature in the Truck Cartel case. The decision deals with the subject matter of the dispute in great detail in 388 paragraphs and closely follows the decision of the Cartel Senate at the Federal… Read more Yet another Higher Regional Court decision in favour of the Truck Buyers
Reimbursement of the HGV toll – apply for the full amount!
Following a change of the legal basis, there will be a partial refund of the German HGV toll. But be careful: this refund only covers a fraction of the actual claim! The offered process will reimburse the reduction for one year period only. With proper representation by a specialised law firm, a refund for 3 to 4 years can be obtained.… Read more Reimbursement of the HGV toll – apply for the full amount!
Next milestone and time expectations
Now that three Federal Supreme Court (BGH) judgments have been delivered*, all of which are favourable to plaintiffs, the lower courts are called upon to determine the extent of damages. The Federal Supreme Court (BGH) strongly backed the proceedings in Munich by requesting a universal expert opinion on the entire range of purchases across all brands and across all years. In Munich, the… Read more Next milestone and time expectations
Time-barring – a complex subject explained simply
With regard to the statute of limitations in the truck cartel case, it should first be noted that the limitation periods have been suspended for a very long time due to the ongoing investigations. The process finally resulted in a penalty notice on 19 July 2016. Since there are still further suspensions, i.e. extensions of the deadlines, today, in… Read more Time-barring – a complex subject explained simply
And what about Scania now?
The Scania case is special. While the other 5 cartel offenders fully confessed and admitted all offences, Scania is still resisting. A fine of 880 million euros was imposed on Scania. Scania had to pay this fine because the decision had been issued and was enforceable. That means that the money could have been enforced by seizure of accounts.Scania can only… Read more And what about Scania now?
The truck cartel case
The European Commission has imposed almost three billion euros in fines on 5 truck manufacturers in the largest cartel uncovered so far, the truck cartel, AT.39284. It is important to note that Daimler, MAN, Renault/Volvo, Iveco and DAF are jointly and severally liable, i.e. each cartel participant can be held fully liable for each purchase (i.e. also from a competitor). These cartelists have fully admitted their actions and admitted all… Read more The truck cartel case