Official Settlement Information Website
Canadian Film Capacitor Class Actions
Did you purchase film capacitors or products containing film capacitors, such as a smartphone or a television, between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2014 (the “Class Period”)? If so, your legal rights could be affected.
CLASS ACTIONS ARE UNDERWAY ACROSS CANADA, WHICH ALLEGE OVERCHARGES FOR FILM CAPACITORS, OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING FILM CAPACITORS, PURCHASED DURING THAT TIME (the “Film Capacitor Class Actions”).
AM I A CLASS MEMBER?
If you are a Canadian resident and purchased film capacitors or products containing film capacitors during the Class Period, you are a settlement class member (“Film Settlement Class Member”) in the Ontario Film Capacitor Class Action.
NEW SETTLEMENTS
Recent settlement agreements have been reached with: Matsuo Electric Co., Ltd. (“Matsuo”), Shizuki Electric Co., Inc. and American Shizuki Corporation (“Shizuki”) and Rubycon Corporation and Rubycon America Inc. (“Rubycon”) in the Film Capacitors Class Action.
Matsuo, Shizuki and Rubycon have respectively agreed to pay CAD $25,000, CAD $225,000 and CAD $200,000 for the benefit of Film Settlement Class Members.
In addition, Matsuo, Shizuki and Rubycon have agreed to provide cooperation to the plaintiffs in pursuing their claims against the non-settling defendants. In exchange, they will be provided with a full release of the claims against them in relation to the Class Actions. The settlements are not admissions of liability, fault, or wrongdoing, but are compromises of disputed claims.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO NOW?
Settlement money will not be distributed now, as the case is still ongoing.
The Court must now determine whether the Matsuo, Shizuki and Rubycon settlements are fair, reasonable and in the best interest of Film Settlement Class Members.
Separate motions to approve the settlements are scheduled to be heard at:
● the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on April 22, 2025 at 9:00 am; and
● the Supreme Court of British Columbia on May 7, 2025 at 9:00am PST, by virtual hearing.
If you think you are a Film Settlement Class Member and want to participate in the settlement approval hearing in your jurisdiction, please contact the lawyers working on the Class Actions for instructions and particulars on how to join the hearing.
The lawyers working on the Class Actions will be requesting Court approval for payment of legal fees of 25% of the settlement amounts, plus disbursements and applicable taxes. This request may be heard in whole or in part by the Courts at the same time as the settlement approval hearings or at a later date. If approved, these amounts may be paid to the lawyers out of the settlement funds at that time.
If you do not oppose the Matsuo, Shizuki and/or Rubycon settlements, you do not need to do anything else at this time.
If you wish to comment on or object to the Matsuo, Shizuki and/or Rubycon settlements or the lawyer’s fees, you must deliver a written submission to one of the lawyers listed here by April 21, 2025 at the latest.
STATUS OF THE CLASS ACTIONS
Previous Settlements
Prior settlements were reached and approved by the Courts with the following defendants in the amount of:
| Nippon Chemi-Con and United Chemi-Con, Inc. (collectively “NCC/UCC”) | CAD $400,000 |
| KEMET Corporation and KEMET Electronics Corporation (collectively “KEMET”) | $325,000 |
| Nichicon Corporation and Nichicon (America) Corporation (collectively “Nichicon”) | CAD $350,000 |
| ROHM Co., Ltd. and ROHM Semiconductor U.S.A., LLC (f/k/a ROHM Electronics U.S.A., LLC) (collectively “ROHM”) | The Film Capacitors Class Action has been dismissed as against ROHM. |
| Panasonic Corporation, Panasonic Corporation of North America, Panasonic Canada Inc., and Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (collectively, “Panasonic”); | CAD $1,350,000 |
| Nitsuko Electronics Corporation (“Nitsuko”); | USD $190,000 |
| Okaya Electric Industries Co., Ltd., and Okaya Electric America, Inc. (collectively, “Okaya”); | CAD $460,000 |
| ELNA Co. Ltd, and ELNA America Inc. (collectively, “ELNA”) | CAD $25,000 |
| Holy Stone Enterprise Co., Ltd., Vishay Polytech Co., Ltd. f/k/a Holy Stone Polytech Co., Ltd., Milestone Global Technology, Inc. d/b/a Holy Stone International, Holy Stone Holdings Co., Ltd., and Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., (collectively, “Holy Stone”) | CAD $10,000 |
The settlement funds recovered to date are being held in an interest-bearing trust account for the benefit of Film Settlement Class Members.
In addition to the settlement amounts, all of the previously settled defendants listed above have also provided cooperation to the plaintiffs in pursuing their claims against the non-settling defendants. In exchange, they have been provided with a full release of the claims against them in relation to the Class Actions. The settlements are not admissions of liability, fault, or wrongdoing, but are compromises of disputed claims.
HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO THE “ELECTROLYTIC” CAPACITOR CLASS ACTIONS WHICH ARE UNDERWAY ACROSS CANADA?
The lawyers representing Film Settlement Class Members in the Film Capacitor Class Actions also represent Electrolytic Settlement Class Members in Electrolytic Capacitors Class Actions underway across Canada.
Film and electrolytic capacitors are used to store energy in electric circuits. They are used in similar types of electronic products, but are made from different materials, and in some cases by different manufacturers.
If you are a purchaser of electronic products, you may be a class member in both actions, and should inform yourself of important updates in both cases. Please click here for more information on the Electrolytic Capacitors Class Actions.
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