Claim for damages under section 47A of the Competition Act 1998 based on the decision of the European Commission dated 19 March 2014 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (COMP/39922 - Bearings).
An application for permission to serve the claim form out of the jurisdiction on three defendants was determined on the papers by the President on 3 March 2016.
Applications by one or more of the defendants for extensions of time to file their defences were granted on 31 March, 7 April, 28 April, 15 June, 21 June and 27 June 2016.
On 9 September 2016 the President granted an order permitting the claimants to withdraw their claim against the sixth to eighth defendants and to make consequential amendments to their claim.
A case management conference (“CMC”) took place on 11 October 2016. At the CMC the Chairman (Mr Justice Green) made an Order setting down directions to trial and an Order establishing a confidentiality ring.
On 25 November 2016 the Chairman granted an order permitting the claimants to withdraw their claim against the fourth defendant and to make consequential amendments to their amended claim.
A further CMC listed for 1 December 2016 was vacated on 29 November 2016. On the same day the Chairman approved a consent Order with further directions relating to disclosure.
A second CMC dealing with disclosure issues took place on 12 January 2017 and on 26 January 2017 the Chairman gave a ruling relating to disclosure ([2017] CAT 2).
Further orders adjusting the trial timetable were granted on 22 May 2017, 12 June 2017, 13 September 2017, 18 October 2017, 16 January 2017 and 1 February 2018. A reasoned order regarding amendments to the parties’ pleadings was made on 6 February 2018.
On 2 March 2018 the Chairman made an order granting an application made by the Claimants for specific disclosure against the Third Defendant. The reasons for the Chairman’s decision to grant the application were issued in a ruling dated 5 March 2018 ([2018] CAT 3). On 6 March 2018 the Chairman approved a consent order pursuant to which the Fifth Defendant gave further disclosure of certain documents.
A pre-trial review took place on 27 March 2018 at which the Chairman made a further order for directions.
A five week trial was listed for April-May 2018, but was vacated. The claim was withdrawn by consent on 30 April 2018.
