Details: Samsung, Sharp, LG and five other manufacturers of LCD flat-panel screens have reached the largest antitrust class action settlement in history, agreeing to pay consumers more than $405 million to resolve allegations they conspired to fix the price of LCD panels in televisions, laptop computers and monitors.

The LCD class action settlement will resolve numerous class action lawsuits alleging LCD manufacturers created an international cartel designed to illegally inflate prices and stifle competition in LCD panels between 1996 and 2006, costing U.S. consumers billions of dollars.

The settling companies include Samsung Electronics, Sharp, Chimei Innolux, Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Epson Imaging Devices, HannStar Display, Hitachi Displays and LG Displays.

In addition to paying a collective $405 million to settle consumer and state regulatory claims, the settling companies agreed to help prosecute other defendants that have not yet settled. Toshiba and AU Optronics still face class action lawsuit litigation in San Francisco Superior Court and in Florida.

The LCD class action lawsuit settlement covers all consumers who made a direct purchase of a Thin Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) product in the United States between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2006 from any of the named Defendants listed above, or one of their subsidiaries or affiliates. A complete list of the Defendants and their alleged co-conspirators can be found at www.TFTLCDClassAction.com.

A TFT-LCD product is any display technology used in flat-panel televisions as a well as in computer monitors, notebook computers, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, and other devices.

The amount of money you can receive from the flat-panel LCD class action settlement cannot be determined at this time, but you must file a claim by April 5, 2012 to ensure you receive a share of the class action settlement fund.

Claim forms can be filled out online at www.TFTLCDClassAction.com.

If the Plaintiffs obtain additional money as a result of a future settlement with the Non-Settling Defendants or trial verdict, a further notice will be provided. To ensure that you receive all future notices, please register at www.TFTLCDClassAction.com. Important information about the case will also be posted on this website.

For more information on your individual rights in the LCD Direct Purchaser Class Action Lawsuit Settlement, go to www.TFTLCDClassAction.com.