In Re TFT-LCD (Flat Panel) Antitrust Litigation
Opinion
Opinion
SUSAN ILLSTON, District Judge.
On October 7, 2010, the Court held a hearing on defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint. For the reasons set forth below, the motion is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.
On March 12, 2010, plaintiffs Dell Inc. and Dell Products L.P. ("Dell") filed a complaint against numerous domestic and foreign defendants alleging a global price-fixing conspiracy by suppliers of thin film transistor-liquid crystal display ("TFT-LCD") panels. Pursuant to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's April 20, 2007 transfer order consolidating pretrial proceedings for a number of actions and this Court's July 3, 2007 Pretrial Order # 1, the case was ordered related to MDL No. 1827 (M 07-1827).
Dell is a technology company headquartered in Round Rock, Texas that offers a broad range of products, including laptop and desktop personal computers. Complaint ¶¶ 29-32. Dell buys TFT-LCD panels for use in a number of its products. Id. ¶ 1. From 1996 until the filing of Dell's complaint (the "Relevant Period"), Dell was a direct purchaser of both TFT-LCD panels and finished products that incorporate TFT-LCD panels (collectively "TFT-LCD Products"). Id. ¶¶ 2,…