Settlements Reached with All Remaining Defendants in Lawn Mower Horsepower Labelling Class Actions

LONDON, ON, Sept. 13, 2018 /CNW/ - Class actions were initiated in Ontario by Harrison Pensa ^LLP and in Québec by Consumer Law Group Inc. against various lawn mower and lawn mower engine manufacturers. It is alleged that the defendants agreed to manipulate horsepower labelling on certain lawn mowers during the class period. The class actions are brought on behalf of all Canadians who purchased certain walk-behind or riding lawn mowers made by the defendants containing certain gas combustible engines labelled at 30 horsepower or less between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 2012. The defendants deny the allegations and no manipulation of horsepower or horsepower labelling has been proven in court.

Settlements have now been reached with the last defendants in the litigation, Kawasaki and Tecumseh, for $785,000 and $1.55 million respectively. The Courts must now approve these settlements. Previous settlements with MTD, Briggs & Stratton, Electrolux, John Deere, Husqvarna, Kohler, Toro, and Honda totalling $5.2 million have already been approved, bringing the total settlement recoveries to $7.535 million.

The plan for distributing the settlement funds to class members must be approved by the Courts before payments can be made. The proposed plan is posted for review at www.lawnmowersettlement.ca. Class members have the right to submit comments or objections for consideration by the Courts.  The deadline for those comments is October 22, 2018. Further information about the settlements and general information about the case can also be found on the website.

Hearings have been set in Ontario and Québec Courts to approve the settlement agreements, the proposed Distribution Protocol, and the fees and disbursements of Class Counsel. The Ontario hearing will be held on October 25, 2018 at 10 a.m. at 4 Wellington Street, St. Thomas, Ontario and the Québec hearing will be held on October 31, 2018 at 2:15 p.m. in room 15.07 at 1, rue Notre-Dame Est, Montréal, Québec.

Once approved, an online Claim Portal will open and class members may make a claim for compensation.

Harrison Pensa ^LLP, based in London Ontario, is one of Canada's foremost class action law firms and has expertise in a full range of class action matters.  

SOURCE Harrison Pensa LLP

Media contact: Jonathan Foreman, [email protected]