Small-Sized Ball Bearings Class Action

Court:
Ontario Superior Court of Justice

Class Members:
If you have purchased small-sized ball bearings, or products containing them, you may be a member of the proposed class.

Co-counsel
Foreman & Company worked in concert with Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman LLP in British Columbia and Belleau Lapointe s.e.n.c.r.l. in Québec (collectively, “Class Counsel”) to prosecute these matters on a national basis.

The content of this page has not been approved by the Court nor does it constitute legal advice. It is for the purpose of providing general information only.

Case Contacts

Jonathan Foreman

Annie Legate-Wolfe

Kassandra Gauld

This class action alleged that certain manufacturers engaged in an illegal cartel to fix prices of small-sized ball bearings in Canada. Small-sized ball bearings are perfectly round metal balls, with an outside diameter of 26 millimetres or less, that are commonly used as components in other products to reduce friction between surfaces. They can be found in products like communication devices, household appliances, video cameras, personal computers, printers, air conditioning units, vacuum cleaners, fishing reels and power tools, among other products.

The defendants’ conduct is alleged to have inflated the price of small sized-ball bearings, and of products containing them, for consumers and businesses across Canada. The class actions sought recovery of these overcharges on behalf of purchasers.

Case History

Court-Approved Settlements

A settlement of CAD $600,000 has been reached and approved by the Court with the defendants NSK Ltd. and NSK Canada Inc. (collectively “NSK”). This is the second and final settlement to be reached in the class actions and resolves the national actions against the defendants.

A prior settlement was reached in the class actions with MinebeaMitsumi Inc. (formerly Minebea Co. Ltd.), NMB Korea Co., Ltd., NMB (USA) Inc. and NMB Technologies Corporation for CAD $1,500,000. The NSK settlement amount will be added to the previous settlement funds for distribution to class members less Court-approved fees, disbursements and applicable taxes. The total gross settlement amounts paid by all defendants for the benefit of class memebrs in the litigation is $2.1 million. At a future date, the Courts will approve how the settlement funds will be distributed and how Class Members can apply to receive a share of the settlement funds. Class Members will be provided with notice, in the form approved by the Court, advising of the commencement of the claims period.

Opt-Outs

The period for opting out of the Small-Sized Ball Bearings class action has passed. There is no further opportunity to opt-out. If you are a Class Member and did not opt-out of the class action, you are bound by the Court-approved settlement agreements.