The Dutch truck manufacturer DAF and the hauliers represented by Deminor reached their settlement before the District Court of Amsterdam. The claims concerned damages arising from the European Commission’s decision to impose fines on the participants of the truck cartel.
Deminor, a company specialising in litigation funding and the recovery of investor losses, worked on the case together with the transport associations TLV and UPTR, both of which supported the action from the outset. The organisations welcomed the agreement, highlighting the thorough preparation behind the process. While the settlement brings the claims against DAF to a close, its terms remain confidential.
Legal proceedings against the other cartel participants continue. Deminor’s clients are represented by lawyers Koen Rutten and Lars Boersma of Finch Dispute Resolution.
Key developments in Germany
The agreement with DAF comes as crucial hearings are under way in Germany, which could influence the size of future compensation awards for hauliers and transport businesses. A German court has appointed two economists to assess whether the cartel caused price increases and, if so, to what extent. Their conclusions, based on regression analysis, have been strongly contested by manufacturers and several legal representatives.
The hearings, which are scheduled to continue until Friday, aim to clarify questions surrounding the methodology and reliability of the evidence.
What this signals for the market
DAF’s settlement with hauliers may signal to other manufacturers that swift and effective agreements are possible in collective proceedings while still ensuring full protection of the claimants’ interests. Meanwhile, the remaining cartel members continue to face the courts, and the outcomes of the ongoing cases could have significant implications for the European road transport market.
