Attorney Warren T. Burns to lead a class of German auto dealers in the MDL

DALLAS – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has appointed Warren T. Burns of Burns Charest LLP to co-lead high-profile antitrust multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the five major German auto manufacturers in a lawsuit alleging the automakers participated in a cartel that lasted two decades.

Mr. Burns will serve as co-lead counsel along with Bruce L. Simon of San Francisco’s Pearson, Simon & Warshaw, LLP. Simon will oversee indirect purchaser claims in the litigation.

With significant experience in automotive and antitrust litigation, Mr. Burns will be responsible for representing the Direct Purchaser Class in the MDL, among other duties.

“This is a remarkable case involving a conspiracy that spanned two decades and touched almost every aspect of automobile manufacturing among the German car makers,” Burns stated following his appointment. “Now that the Court has appointed leadership, we are eager to roll up our sleeves and proceed with this litigation.”

In October, Mr. Burns filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against five leading German automakers – Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler-Benz, Audi and Porsche – for engaging in a price-fixing conspiracy. Since then, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated at least 24 actions with similar claims against the German automakers to the Northern District of California.

“We are thrilled to be working with world class colleagues in this litigation,” Burns said. “We are prepared to bring every resource to bear to ensure that our clients are compensated for their damages.”

The case is German Automotive Manufacturers Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 2796 CRB (JSC) in the Northern District of California.

Mr. Burns and the lawyers of Burns Charest have extensive experience representing parties in complex class-action and multidistrict litigation. Mr. Burns is currently leading a national class-action litigation against EpiPen manufacturer Mylan. Additionally, the firm serves as lead counsel for certain claimants in litigation arising from flooding during Hurricane Harvey.