Frequently Asked Questions

This class action is called In re: PVC Pipe Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:24-cv-07639, and is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (the “Action”). Judge LaShonda A. Hunt is overseeing this class action. Non-Converter Seller Purchaser Plaintiffs allege that the Atkore Defendants and the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants, and their co-conspirators conspired and combined to fix, raise, maintain, and stabilize the price of PVC Pipe Systems from January 1, 2020, through May 13, 2026, with the intent and expected result of increasing prices of PVC Pipe Systems sold in the United States and its territories, in violation of federal antitrust laws and various state antitrust and consumer protection laws. Converter Defendants named in the NCSPs’ Second Consolidated Class Action Complaint are producers of PVC Pipe Systems in the United States. Defendant Oil Price Information Service (“OPIS”) published a newsletter through which it is alleged Converter Defendants and their co-conspirators fixed the prices of the PVC Pipe Systems they manufactured and/or sold. NCSPs have reached a settlement with OPIS and now with the Atkore Defendants and the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants. However, NCSPs’ case is still proceeding against the other Converter Defendants. Converter Defendants may be subject to separate settlements, judgments, and class certification orders. If applicable, you will receive a separate notice regarding the progress of the Action and any resolution of claims against the other Defendants. 
 

Please register through the form on this website to receive updates regarding the progress of the Action, the Settlements, and any resolution of claims against the Non-Settling Defendants. The case website will be updated as circumstances change, so check back regularly for updates. 
 

Settling Defendants have not conceded or admitted any allegations of wrongdoing in this lawsuit and would allege numerous defenses to NCSPs’ claims if the case against them were to proceed

In a class action lawsuit, one or more people or businesses called class representatives sue on behalf of others who have similar claims, all of whom together are a “class.” Individual class members do not have to file a lawsuit to participate in the class action settlement or be bound by the judgment in the class action. One court resolves the issues for everyone in the class, except for those who exclude themselves from the class. The class representatives for NCSPs in this case are Plaintiffs: George Bavolak, Delta Line Construction Co., TC Construction, Inc., Blake Wrobbel, Stephen Bell, Bell Electric, LLC, Russell Jacobs, Kecia Newton, Alpha and Omega Development LLC, Eric Wasman, Adam Kennedy, My Flooring, Inc., and Victor Silva. 

The Court did not decide in favor of NCSPs or Settling Defendants. NCSPs believe they may have won at trial and possibly obtained a greater recovery. Settling Defendants believe NCSPs may not have succeeded at class certification or won at a trial. But litigation involves risks to both sides, and therefore NCSPs and Settling Defendants have agreed to the Settlements. The Settlements require Settling Defendants to pay money, as well as provide specified cooperation in the NCSPs’ continued prosecution of the Action. NCSPs and their attorneys believe the Settlements are in the best interests of all NCSP Settlement Class members. 

You may have received other communications regarding this lawsuit, including solicitations by other attorneys seeking to represent you as a plaintiff in an individual (or “direct action”) lawsuit against Defendants. These communications were not approved by the Court and did not come from Court-appointed NCSP Settlement Class Counsel. You should carefully review this Notice and your rights as a potential member of the NCSP Settlement Class before deciding whether to opt out or stay in the NCSP Settlement Class pertaining to the Atkore Defendants and Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants. Each of the three Classes in the Action—the NCSP Class, the End User Class, and the Direct Purchaser Plaintiff (“DPP”) Class—previously sent out a separate notice concerning the settlement with OPIS, which was approved by the Court. The DPP Class represents those who purchased PVC Pipes and Fittings directly from Converter Defendants and has also reached a settlement with the Atkore Defendants and will be sending out its own notice to potential DPP Class members.

The Court decided that, for Settlement purposes, the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and the separate NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class are each defined as:

All entities and persons who purchased PVC Pipe Systems in the United States between January 1, 2020 through May 13, 2026 (1) directly from a seller that purchased PVC Pipe Systems from a Converter Defendant that was (2) manufactured by a Converter Defendant.

Specifically excluded from the Settlement Class are (1) the following categories of purchasers: (a) All public water systems that purchased PVC Pipe Products for end-use, including in connection with the treatment or supply of water; (b) All public wastewater systems that purchased PVC Pipe Products for end-use, including for the collection, disposal, or treatment of wastewater; (c) All suppliers of public energy or electricity that purchased PVC Pipe Products for end-use, including in connection with the supply of electricity for public consumption; or (d) All purchasers of PVC Pipe Products that purchased from a seller who purchased the product indirectly from a Converter Defendant; (2) Defendants; the officers, directors, or employees of any Defendant; any entity in which any Defendant has a controlling interest; and any Affiliate, legal representative, heir, or assign of any Defendant, (3) any federal government entities, (4) any judicial officer presiding over this action and the members of his/her immediate family and judicial staff, any juror assigned to this action, and any business majority-owned by any such person, and (5) the following alleged co-conspirators: Core & Main Inc., Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., Fortiline Waterworks, Hajoca Corporation, Porter Pipe & Supply Co., and United Pipe & Steel Corp.

Also excluded from the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class is anyone who files a timely and valid exclusion request. Before any funds will be disbursed, the Court will approve a plan of allocation and distribution. After the Court’s initial approval of that plan of allocation, you will receive further notice and an opportunity to object to that plan of allocation.

If you are a member of the NCSP Atkore Defendants and NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Classes and do not exclude yourself, you may be eligible to participate in (or exclude yourself from) any additional settlements which may arise with any other Defendants in the case. You may be a member of more than one class in this case. If so, you need to evaluate your participation and choices with respect to participation in each class separately.

For purposes of the Settlements, “PVC Pipe Systems” consist of (1) PVC Pipes and (2) PVC Fittings that connect PVC Pipe segments into piping systems, and for the avoidance of doubt, include PVC Pipes sold without PVC Fittings and vice-versa. 

Yes. As noted in Paragraph 5 above, specifically excluded from the NCSP Settlement Classes are (1) the following categories of purchasers: (a) All public water systems that purchased PVC Pipe Products for end-use, including in connection with the treatment or supply of water; (b) All public wastewater systems that purchased PVC Pipe Products for end-use, including for the collection, disposal, or treatment of wastewater; (c) All suppliers of public energy or electricity that purchased PVC Pipe Products for end-use, including in connection with the supply of electricity for public consumption; or (d) All purchasers of PVC Pipe Products that purchased from a seller who purchased the product indirectly from a Converter Defendant; (2) Defendants; the officers, directors, or employees of any Defendant; any entity in which any Defendant has a controlling interest; and any Affiliate, legal representative, heir, or assign of any Defendant, (3) any federal government entities, (4) any judicial officer presiding over this action and the members of his/her immediate family and judicial staff, any juror assigned to this action, and any business majority-owned by any such person, and (5) the following alleged co-conspirators: Core & Main Inc., Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., Fortiline Waterworks, Hajoca Corporation, Porter Pipe & Supply Co., and United Pipe & Steel Corp. Also excluded from the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and/or NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class is anyone who files a timely and valid exclusion request. 
 

If you are in one of these categories, you are not a member of the NCSP Atkore Defendants and NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Classes and are not eligible to participate in the Settlements as an NCSP Atkore Defendants or NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class member. However, if you are a public water system, public wastewater system, or a supplier of public energy or electricity, you may be eligible to participate in the Settlement as a member of the End-User Settlement Class for any settlements they may reach in this matter. Any separate notices sent by the End-User Settlement Class concerning any settlements they reach with Defendants will inform you of your eligibility to participate in any settlements reached on behalf of the End User Class.

If you are still not sure if you are included, please review the detailed information contained in the Settlement Agreements available here, or call the Settlement Administrator toll-free at +1 (833) 890-9261.

If the Settlement is approved, OPIS will pay $3,000,000 to resolve all of the NCSP Class and End User Class members’ claims against OPIS for the Released Claims (as defined in the Settlement Agreement). In addition to this monetary benefit, OPIS has also agreed to provide specified cooperation in the NCSP Plaintiffs’ continued prosecution of the litigation. OPIS has also agreed that for a period of two (2) years after this Settlement is approved by the Court, it will not engage in conduct that is determined in a final non-appealable judgment to constitute a per se violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act in the PVC Pipe Market. The Settlement Agreement is available here.

If the Settlements are approved, the Atkore Defendants will pay $64,000,000, and Northern Pipe and Vinyltech will pay $34,000,000 to resolve all of the NCSP Class claims against the Atkore Defendants and the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants for the Released Claims (as defined in the Settlement Agreements). In addition to this monetary benefit, the Atkore Defendants and Northern Pipe and Vinyltech have also agreed to provide specified cooperation in the NCSPs’ continued prosecution of the Action. The Atkore Defendants and the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants have both also agreed that from the entry of Final Judgment and for a period of two (2) years thereafter, they will not engage in conduct that has been expressly determined in a final, non-appealable judgment entered in the Action to constitute a per se violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act in a relevant market for PVC Pipe Systems. The Settlement Agreements are available here.

No money will be distributed at this time. NCSP Settlement Class Counsel will continue to pursue the lawsuit against the Non-Settling Defendants. At a later time, NCSP Settlement Class Counsel will request that the Court approve a plan of allocation, award attorneys’ fees, permit the reimbursement of certain litigation costs and expenses, and award service awards for the class representatives. You will receive further notice and an opportunity to make a claim or object to these requests. See Question 20 for more information regarding NCSP Settlement Class Counsel’s attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses. All Settlement funds that remain after payment of the Court ordered attorneys’ fees, expenses, and service awards will be distributed at the conclusion of the lawsuit or as ordered by the Court.

Unless you exclude yourself, you are staying in the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class, which means that you cannot sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Atkore Defendants or the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants that pertains to the Released Claims (as defined in the Settlement Agreements). It also means that all of the Court’s orders will apply to you and legally bind you. The Released Claims are detailed in the Settlement Agreements available here.
 

At this time, as the deadline to submit a request for exclusion has alredy passed for the previously reached NCSP Class Settlement with OPIS, this information applies only to the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class. You are not releasing your claims against any Defendant other than the Atkore Defendants and the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants by staying in the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class.

The Atkore Defendants’ Settlement Agreement in paragraphs 14 and 15 and the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants’ Settlement Agreement in paragraphs 16 and 17 (titled “NCSPs’ Release” and “Further Release”) describe these “Released Claims” and the “Atkore Released Parties” and “Released Parties” in necessary legal terminology, so read these sections carefully. The Settlement Agreements are available here or in the public court records on file in this lawsuit. For questions regarding the Releases or what they mean, you can also contact one of the lawyers listed in Question 18 for free, or you can talk to your own lawyer at your own expense.

If you do nothing, you will remain a member of the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class and participate in these Settlements if you submit a valid claim form, if required, when that option is available at a later date. You will also have the opportunity to participate in (or exclude yourself from) any future settlements or judgments obtained by NCSPs against other Defendants in the case, and you will also have an opportunity to object to the plan of allocation and requests for attorneys’ fees, reimbursement of expenses, and service awards. 

If you do not want the benefits offered by one or both of the Settlements and you do not want to be legally bound by the terms of the Settlements, or if you wish to pursue (or continue to pursue) your own separate lawsuit against the Atkore Defendants and/or the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants, you must exclude yourself by submitting a written request to the Settlement Administrator (see address below) by August 7, 2026 stating your intent to exclude yourself from either or both of the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class or NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class (an “Exclusion Request”). Your Exclusion Request must include the following:

If You are an individual:

1. Your full name, current mailing address, email address, and telephone number; 

2. A statement that You wish to be excluded from the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and/or NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class;

3. Your signature;

4. Information on the total dollar amount of your purchases of PVC Pipe Systems from January 1, 2020, through May 13, 2026, and documents sufficient to show proof of Your membership in the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class (e.g., receipts showing purchase of PVC Pipe Systems).

If You are a business:

1. Your company’s full name, current mailing address, email address, and telephone number; 

2. A statement that You wish to be excluded from the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and/or NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class;

3. A signature from an authorized representative of Your business along with a statement of that person’s position or authority by which he or she has the power to exclude the entity from the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class or NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class; and

4. Information on the total dollar amount of your purchases of PVC Pipe Systems from January 1, 2020, through May 13, 2026, and documents sufficient to show proof of Your membership in the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class or NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class (e.g., receipts showing purchase of PVC Pipe Systems).

If Your Exclusion Request includes an assignment from another business or person, then in addition to the above information, Your Exclusion Request must:

1. Identify the name of the assignor and the assignee; 

2. Provide a copy of the signed assignment agreement; and 

3. (3) The total value of purchases of PVC Pipe Systems from January 1, 2020, through May 13, 2026, that are subject to the assignment.

You must mail Your Exclusion Request, postmarked no later than August 7, 2026, to:

In re PVC Antitrust Litigation

c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC

P.O. Box 225391

New York, NY 10150-5391

No. If you exclude yourself, you are telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the NCSPs’ Settlement with the Atkore Defendants and/or NCSPs’ Settlement with the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants. You can only get Settlement benefits from these Settlements if you stay in the Settlements and submit a valid claim form when that option is available at a later date. You may choose to remain in both the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and the NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class; OR you may remain in only one of the two Settlement Classes; OR you may exclude yourself from both the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class.

No. Unless you exclude yourself, you give up the right to sue the Atkore Defendants or the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants for the NCSP claims that the Settlements resolve. If you have a pending lawsuit against the Atkore Defendants or the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants, speak to your lawyer in that lawsuit immediately to determine whether you must exclude yourself from the pertinent NCSP Settlement Class to continue your own lawsuit against the Atkore Defendants or the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants.

By staying in the lawsuit, you are not releasing your claims in this case against any Defendant other than the Atkore Defendants or the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants.
 

If you are a member of the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class or the NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class and have not excluded yourself from either or both of the Settlements, you can object to the Settlement(s) if you do not like part or all of it. The Court will consider your views.

To object, you must send a letter or other written statement saying that you object to the Settlement with the Atkore Defendants and/or the Settlement with the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants in In re: PVC Pipe Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:24-cv-07639, and the reasons why you object to the Settlement(s). If you wish to appear in person to be heard or object to the Settlement Agreement, you must submit an appropriate and timely request to appear. Be sure to include your full name, current mailing address, and email address. Your objection must be signed. You may include or attach any documents that you would like the Court to consider. Do not send your written objection to the Court or the judge. Instead, mail the objection to the Settlement Administrator, NCSP Settlement Class Counsel, and counsel for the Atkore Defendants and the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants at the addresses listed below. Your objection must be postmarked by August 7, 2026. 

Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement(s). You can object only if you do not exclude yourself from the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class or NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class. Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the NCSP Atkore Defendants or NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Classes. If you exclude yourself, you cannot object because the Settlement no longer affects you.

Yes, the Court has appointed the lawyers identified as NCSP Settlement Class Counsel in Question 18 to represent the NCSP Atkore Defendants and NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Classes. If you wish to remain a member of the NCSP Settlement Classes, you do not need to hire your own lawyer because NCSP Settlement Class Counsel is working on your behalf. If you wish to pursue your own case separate from this one, or if you exclude yourself from the NCSP Settlement Classes, these lawyers will no longer represent you. You will need to hire your own lawyer if you wish to pursue your own lawsuit against the Atkore Defendants or the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants.

NCSP Settlement Class Counsel intend to ask the Court at a later date for attorneys’ fees of up to one-third of the Settlement Fund (including on accrued interest) in connection with these and potential future settlements based on their services in this Action, but NCSP Settlement Class Counsel do not intend to request an award of attorneys’ fees at this time. NCSP Settlement Class Counsel will also later request reimbursement of litigation expenses and costs as well as service awards for the class representatives. Any payment to the attorneys or class representatives will be subject to Court approval, and the Court may award less than the requested amount. Any attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses, and service awards that the Court orders, plus the costs to administer the Settlements, will come out of the Settlement Fund. 

NCSP Settlement Class Counsel may seek additional attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses, and service awards from any other settlements or recoveries obtained in the future. When NCSP Settlement Class Counsel’s motion for fees, costs, expenses, and service awards is filed, it will be available here. You will have an opportunity to comment on or object to such requests at a later time. 

The Court will hold a hearing to decide whether to approve the Settlements (the “Fairness Hearing”). You may attend, and you may ask to speak, but you do not have to. The Court will hold a Fairness Hearing on September 15, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Central. The Fairness Hearing will take place by telephone, video conference, or in person at the Everett McKinley Dirksen Federal Courthouse, 219 South Dearborn, Chicago, Illinois 60604. At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlements are fair, reasonable, and adequate. If there are objections, the Court will consider them. The Court will listen to class members who have asked to speak at the hearing. After the hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the Settlements. We do not know how long these decisions will take. The Court may also move the Fairness Hearing to a later date or change the format (in person, telephonic, or video conference) without providing additional notice to the Class. Updates will be posted to this website regarding any changes to the hearing date.

No. NCSP Settlement Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. However, you are welcome to attend. As long as you mailed your written objection on time, the Court will consider it. You may also pay your own lawyer to attend, but it is not necessary.

Yes. You may ask to speak at the Fairness Hearing. To do so, you must send a letter saying that it is your “Notice of Intention to Appear in In re: PVC Pipe Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:24-cv-07639 (N.D. Ill.).” Be sure to include your name, current mailing address, telephone number, and signature. 

Your Notice of Intention to Appear must be postmarked by August 7, 2026, and it must be sent to the Clerk of the Court, NCSP Settlement Class Counsel, and counsel for the Atkore Defendants and the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants. 

The address for the Clerk of the Court is: 
 

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois 

Eastern Division 

Dirksen U.S. Courthouse 

219 S. Dearborn Street 

Chicago, IL 60604

The addresses for NCSP Settlement Class Counsel and counsel for the Atkore Defendants and the Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants are provided in Question 18. You cannot ask to speak at the hearing as a member of the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class or the NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class if you excluded yourself from both the NCSP Atkore Defendants Settlement Class and the NCSP Northern Pipe and Vinyltech Defendants Settlement Class. If you have excluded yourself from only one of the two, you may still speak at the Fairness Hearing in relation to the class for which you remain a member.

This Notice contains a summary of relevant Court papers. You can review relevant decisions and orders and additional information about this Action on this case website. You may also contact the Settlement Administrator for more information or to update your address by mail, email, or phone using the following contact information:
 

In re PVC Antitrust Litigation 
c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC 
P.O. 225391
New York, NY 10150-5391
Email: [email protected]
+1 (833) 890-9261
 

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT, OR THE COURT CLERK’S OFFICE TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS CASE.