In re Domestic Drywall Antitrust Litigation
Berger Montague served as Co-Lead Counsel on behalf of a class of direct purchasers of drywall, in a case alleging that the dominant manufacturers of drywall engaged in a conspiracy to fix drywall prices in the U.S. and to abolish the industry’s long-standing practice of limiting price increases for the duration of a construction project through “job quotes.”
Berger Montague represented a class of direct purchasers of drywall from defendants for the period from January 1, 2012 to January 31, 2013. USG Corporation and United States Gypsum Company (collectively, “USG”), New NGC, Inc., Lafarge North America Inc., Eagle Materials, Inc., American Gypsum Company LLC, TIN Inc. d/b/a Temple-Inland Inc., and PABCO Building Products, LLC were named as defendants in this action.
On August 20, 2015, the district court granted final approval of two settlements—one with USG and the other with TIN Inc.—totaling $44.5 million. On December 8, 2016, the district court granted final approval of a $21.2 million settlement with Lafarge North America, Inc.
On February 18, 2016, the district court denied the motions for summary judgment filed by American Gypsum Company, New NGC, Inc., Lafarge North America Inc., and PABCO Building Products. On August 23, 2017, the district court granted direct purchaser plaintiffs’ motion for class certification.
On January 29, 2018, the district court granted preliminary approval a of joint settlement with the remaining defendants, New NGC, Inc., Eagle Materials, Inc., American Gypsum Company LLC, and PABCO Building Products, LLC, for $125 million. The settlement received final approval on July 17, 2018, bringing the total amount of settlements for the class to $190.7 million.
