LONDON, United Kingdom — The Competition Appeal Tribunal today approved a £37.25 million settlement between Mark McLaren, class representative in the car delivery charges legal action, and WWL/EUKOR and “K” Line, two of the four shipping companies named in the lawsuit.
This brings total compensation up for grabs by UK businesses and consumers to £38.75 million, including the CSAV settlement that was approved in December last year.
Over 17 million cars and vans bought in the UK are said to have been affected by a price-fixing scheme run by international shipping firms MOL, “K” Line, NYK, WWL/EUKOR and CSAV. Those affected are consumers and businesses who bought new vehicles from many of the leading brands including Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Peugeot, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, Citroen and Renault between October 2006 and September 2015.
The settling defendants WWL/EUKOR, “K” Line and CSAV represent 52.3% of the cartel. A nine week trial against the remaining defendants MOL and NYK, who represent 47.7% of the cartel, will commence on 13 January 2025. This portion of the claim is valued at approximately £100 million. The class representative is Mark McLaren, who has instructed Scott+Scott, and Sarah Ford KC and Sarah O’Keefe of Brick Court Chambers and Nicholas Gibson of Monckton Chambers. The claim is funded by Woodsford.
Mark McLaren, class representative said: “We are thrilled that the Tribunal has approved these two settlements, underscoring that they are in the best interests of the class members that I represent. I have spent much of my career working in consumer protection and feel strongly that consumers and businesses harmed by unlawful conduct should be compensated. Achieving these two further settlements brings the total compensation for UK businesses and consumers affected by the shipping cartel to nearly £40 million. ”
Belinda Hollway, Partner and Head of Scott+Scott London said: “The approval of these settlements is a very positive development for class members and demonstrate the claim’s momentum ahead of the nine week trial against the remaining two defendants in January. Scott+Scott is proud to be advising the class representative and this is an important achievement for the claimants that Mark represents, providing access to justice and securing redress to victims of the cartel.”