Did You Buy an LCD, Flat-Panel TV Between 1999 and 2007? You May Have Been Ripped Off

Did you get snowed?

​Attorney General Chris Koster announced yesterday that he has filed a lawsuit against the world's leading manufacturers of flat screen LCD panels, alleging a conspiracy to fix the prices of their products.

The AG is encouraging Missouri consumers, businesses, or organizations who bought desktop monitors, notebook computers, or LCD televisions between 1999 and 2007 to report information on a form available at ago.mo.gov. Koster was joined in the lawsuit by the attorneys general of four other states.

Defendants in the lawsuit are: AU Optronics Corporation; AU Optronics Corporation America; Chi Mei Innolux Corp., Chi Mei Optoelectronics USA, Inc.; International Display Technology USA, Inc.; Chi Mei Optoelectronics Japan Co., Ltd; HannStar Display Corporation; Hitachi, Ltd.; Hitachi Displays, Ltd.; Hitachi Electronic Devices, USA, Inc.; LG Phillips LCD Co., Ltd.; LG Phillips LCD America, Inc.; Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.; Samsung Electronics America, Inc.; Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.; Sharp Corporation; and Sharp Electronics Corporation.

"These companies conspired with the intent to prevent competition in order to keep prices high and increase their profits in this mega-billion dollar market," Koster said.

Koster is asking the court to issue an injunction against each manufacturer to prevent future price-fixing activities; provide restitution for Missourians who purchased products containing LCD panels manufactured between 1999 and 2006; and award civil penalties and costs of the investigation.

Consumers are encouraged to submit a Purchase Information Form for Consumers, and businesses and organizations are encouraged to submit a Purchase Information Form for Organizations to his office by October 15, 2010.