Price-fixing lawsuit could affect SA forwarders

A class action price fixing lawsuit in the United States has the potential to affect both freight forwarders and other logistics suppliers in South Africa, as well as the shippers and cargo owners. A class-action settlement preliminarily approved by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York impacts South African companies that shipped goods to or from the United States between January 1, 2001 to September 14, 2012. The lawsuit claims that freight forwarders throughout the world conspired to fix prices for their services, including on routes between the US and China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and the UK. According to the lawyers, 10 international freight forwarding companies have agreed to settle the claim. Individuals and businesses that have directly purchased freight forwarding services to and from the United States, or within the country during the stipulated time period may lodge a claim against the logistics companies. This would include South African shippers and cargo owners. “Freight forwarding services” is defined as “freight forwarding, transportation, or logistics services for shipments, including services relating to the organisation or transportation of items via air, ocean, rail, and road, both nationally and internationally, and related activities such as customs clearance, warehousing, and ground services”. The class action is continuing against those companies that have decided not to settle. More information about the case is available from www.FreightForwardCase. com.