Shimano, Inc. confirmed the earlier reporting by the Nikkei Online Edition that a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. claiming damages related to bonded 11-speed Hollowtech II road cranksets sold in the U.S.
The company said the lawsuit was filed in The U.S. District Court in California against its subsidiary, Shimano North America Holding, Inc., and the three bicycle manufacturers—Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc., Trek Bicycle Corporation and Giant Bicycle, Inc.
The plaintiffs have reportedly not specified the amount of damages they are seeking.
Shimano said the plaintiffs seek class status, but the Court will decide.
A statement was issued from the desk of company President Taizo Shimano as follows: “This lawsuit is still at an early stage of procedural development, and the Court has not certified a class,” the company wrote to investors. “We have been working with our subsidiary to respond to this lawsuit and the Court’s procedure.
“On February 7, our subsidiary filed a motion requesting dismissal of the claim. If any matter to be disclosed arises in terms of the timely disclosure rules of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, such as the impact on business performance, we plan to disclose it in a timely manner.”
Images courtesy Shimano, Inc.
