On October 1, 2026, Judge LaShonda A. Hunt of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted final approval of two settlements on behalf of the End-User Class in In re PVC Pipe Antitrust Litigation, No. 1:24-cv-07639. Together, the settlements total $80 million.
- $50 million from the Atkore Defendants: Atkore Inc., Atkore Plastic Pipe Corp., Atkore RMCP, Inc., Allied Tube & Conduit Corporation, and Atkore International, Inc.
- $30 million from the Otter Tail Defendants: Otter Tail Corporation, Northern Pipe Products, Inc., and Vinyltech Corporation.
About the PVC Pipe Antitrust Case
The End-User Class alleges that PVC pipe manufacturers, which the industry calls “converters,” conspired to fix, raise, and stabilize prices for PVC pipe products. These products include municipal water and sewer pipe, plumbing pipe, and electrical conduit. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the defendants coordinated price increases and exchanged competitively sensitive information. According to the complaint, they did so partly through Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) and its industry publication, PVC & Pipe Weekly. The class asserts claims under federal antitrust law as well as the antitrust and consumer protection laws of numerous states.
The Court’s Final Approval Ruling
The Court found each settlement fair, reasonable, and adequate under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e). In particular, it found that the parties negotiated the settlements at arm’s length and that the settlements treat class members equitably. The Court also certified a settlement class covering eligible purchasers of PVC pipe products in the United States and its territories from September 1, 2017, through June 10, 2026. Furthermore, it appointed Pearson Warshaw, LLP and Fegan Scott LLP as Settlement Class Counsel.
What Happens Next for Class Members
At this time, Settlement Class Counsel are not seeking attorneys’ fees, incentive awards, or distribution of settlement funds. Instead, they have asked the Court to create a future litigation fund, which has been granted. Before counsel seeks to distribute settlement proceeds or requests fees, class members will receive notice. The Court must also approve any such request. Meanwhile, the case continues against the non-settling defendants. Because the settlements resolve the End-User Class’s claims against the Atkore and Otter Tail defendants only, the class can still pursue its claims against the remaining defendants.
Pearson Warshaw specializes in class actions and individual suits in antitrust, unfair competition, wage and hour law, consumer protection, investment fraud, products liability, and business litigation. Since its founding in 2006, the firm has obtained more than $3 billion in settlements and verdicts.