In Re Nissan Motor Corp. Antitrust Litigation

OPINION AND ORDER

I. Background of the Litigation

In June of 1972, the United States commenced an action for injunctive re lief under the federal antitrust laws in the Northern District of California against Nissan Motor Corporation in U.S.A. Nissan dealers throughout the country were named as co-conspirators but not as defendants. The United States alleged that defendant Nissan U.S.A. and its dealers engaged in an unlawful conspiracy to fix prices and to restrict territories and customer selection in the sale of Datsun automobiles. The action was terminated by a consent decree entered in…