Welcome to the In re Telescopes Antitrust Litigation Indirect Purchaser Actions Settlement Website
Did you purchase a telescope from January 1, 2005 to September 6, 2023?
A class action lawsuit and a settlement of part of that lawsuit could affect your rights. You may be eligible to receive a payment from a $32 million settlement.
You are not being sued.
The notice explains the lawsuit, the settlement, and your legal rights and options. Please read the entire notice carefully. You need to make a decision about the settlement. To make the best decision for yourself, read on.
Important things to know:
- You must file a claim to receive money from the settlement.
- If you do nothing, you will still be bound by the settlement and the lawsuit, and your rights will be affected.
- If you want to opt out or object, you must do so by February 13, 2025.
- You can learn more by navigating this website. Please review carefully.
NATURE OF THE CASE
A group of people filed a class action lawsuit against Synta Technology Corp. of Taiwan (a.k.a. Synta Technology Corp. and Good Advance Industries Ltd.); Suzhou Synta Optical Technology Co., Ltd.; Nantong Schmidt Opto-Electrical Technology Co. Ltd.; Synta Canada International Enterprises Ltd.; Pacific Telescope Corp.; Olivon Manufacturing Co. Ltd.; SW Technology Corporation; Celestron Acquisition, LLC and Olivon USA, LLC (collectively, “the Synta Defendants”) and related individuals. These plaintiffs claimed that they paid more for telescopes than they would have paid had the Synta Defendants and related individuals not allegedly conspired to unlawfully fix or stabilize prices for Telescopes. In the same complaint, this group of people also filed a class action lawsuit against Ningbo Sunny Electronic Co. Ltd. (“Ningbo Sunny”).
The Synta Defendants and related individuals have agreed to pay $32 million to settle claims against them. The group of people whom Synta has agreed to pay is called the settlement class, and it includes everyone who indirectly purchased one or more telescopes from January 1, 2005 to September 6, 2023, from a distributor/retailer that was manufactured by a defendant or alleged co-conspirator, while located in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wisconsin (“Indirect Purchaser States”). Typically, the qualifying telescopes related to this lawsuit were branded “Celestron,” “Orion,” “Skywatcher,” “Zhumell” or “Meade.”
If you are in this class and would like to get paid, you must file a claim by returning a Claim Form or make a claim on this website.
THE SETTLEMENT CLASS
You are a settlement class member if, between January 1, 2005 and September 6, 2023, you purchased one or more telescopes from a retailer or distributor (or from an entity other than a defendant) that any defendant or alleged co-conspirator manufactured while located in one of the Indirect Purchaser States. This is known under the antitrust and consumer protection laws as an "indirect purchase.” Commonly, such qualifying telescopes include Celestron, Orion, Skywatcher, Zhumell and Meade branded telescopes. If you are unsure whether your telescope qualifies, please read on.
“Telescopes” refers to optical instruments that magnify and enhance the view of faraway objects, as further described in paragraphs 96 through 99 of the Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs’ Fourth Amended Consolidated Complaint (linked here), and does not include other optical instruments not marketed as telescopes, such as binoculars, siting scopes, microscopes, etc.
Note: You are not a member of the settlement class if you are the defendants; their parent companies, subsidiaries and affiliates; any co-conspirators; defendants’ attorneys in this action; federal government entities and instrumentalities, states and their subdivisions; all judges assigned to this action; all jurors in this action; and all persons or entities who directly purchased telescopes exclusively from defendants.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Make a Claim to Get Paid From the Settlement
To receive a payment from the settlement, you must make a claim. You can do so on this website.
The only way to receive a settlement payment is to make a valid claim.
If you bought a qualifying telescope, you may have received an email or postcard with a claim code saying you are part of the settlement. You can use your claim code to file a claim for a payment here. If you did not receive an email or postcard, but believe you purchased a qualifying telescope, you can make a claim on this website. You can also call the Settlement Administrator at 1-833-419-3506 if you would like to have a paper Claim Form mailed to you.
If you wish to file a claim online but have not received a claim code, please call 866 568 7713 to speak to the Settlement Administrator about generating one.
DO NOTHING
If you do nothing:
- You will not get any money from the settlement;
- You will remain in the settlement class and your claims against the Settling Defendants and Co-Conspirators will be bound by the orders of the Court; and
- You will not retain your right to bring your own lawsuit against the Synta Defendants for the conduct described above.
EXCLUDE YOURSELF FORM THE SETTLEMENT
You can opt out of the settlement class (also known as excluding yourself) if you want to separately bring the kinds of claims against Defendants and co-conspirators that are the subject of this lawsuit.
If you opt out of the settlement class:
- You will not get any settlement payment;
- You will retain your right to bring your own lawsuit against defendants and co-conspirators regarding the same conduct.
If you are considering bringing a separate claim against defendants and co-conspirators, you should consult your own attorney who can advise you regarding any possible claims you may have and the deadlines in this litigation.
The deadline to opt out is: February 13, 2025.
OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT
If you are a member of the settlement class and do not opt out, you can object to the settlement if you do not like it.
The deadline to object is: February 13, 2025.