One of the Lithuanian law firms gears up for a class action against producers of heavy vehicles for price fixing between 1997 and 2011. Lithuanians approached the case quite reasonably – they invited partners from Moscow to cooperation. Now the two law firms gather up a group of carriers, to try to recover losses together.
Common cause of Lithuanians and Russians
Lithuanian law firm, Verum, has been cooperating on this issue with the Russian Pleshakov, Ushkalov & Partners. Moscow lawyers are experienced market players who have often been representatives of such organisations as the IRU.
The claim, of course, has not yet been made – at the moment we are looking for and gathering carriers. However, we have already achieved a lot, e.g. on the issue of funding. As we all know, the courts in the West mean truly westerly costs” – says Mindaugas Šimkūnas, lawyer and partner of the Verum law firm.
Acording to M. Šimkūnas, Vilnius law firm has received an invitation from representatives of Pleshakov, Ushkalov & Partners, and Lithuanians gladly agreed.
How is the process going to be?
As we have learned, the claims has not yet been made. The proceedings may not even take place.
Producers of trucks know that such courts cost a lot and, sooner or later, the companies will have to pay for the losses. For this reason, the defendant can start negotiations even before judicial proceedings” – explains M. Šimkūnas.
The expert argues that the “here and now” agreement, and consequently less spending and time saved, is a very common phenomenon in Western countries.
How many companies will participate in the proceedings?
How many carriers will the law firms gather – at the moment it is hard to say. All we know is that it will be a lot of them. As it turns out, there are many who are willing to recover the money.
Only in Russia, during the period of price fixing, more than 3 thousand of heavy vehicles were purchased. In Lithuania, on the other hand, as it is estimated by the International Road Carriers’ Association Linava, almost a thousand companies suffered losses. In the European Union, there is about 600 thousand of them.
Photo: pixabay.com
