In a pivotal moment for a sprawling antitrust litigation, counsel for two classes of PVC pipe purchasers urged an Illinois federal judge Tuesday to approve preliminary settlements totaling $6 million with a price analytics firm allegedly entangled in a conspiracy to inflate pipe prices.

Oil Price Information Service LLC (OPIS)—a market reporting service accused of facilitating collusion among PVC pipe manufacturers—has agreed to pay $3 million each to direct purchasers and non-converter seller purchasers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe. OPIS also pledged substantial cooperation, a move expected to turbocharge the plaintiffs’ broader legal assault on the remaining defendants.

“Ice-Breaker” Deal May Crack Case Open

During a hearing before U.S. District Judge LaShonda Hunt in Chicago, plaintiffs' attorneys described the proposed settlement as a case accelerator—an “ice-breaker” poised to inject momentum into the complex litigation and support forthcoming amended complaints expanding the scope of the alleged price-fixing conspiracy.

“This agreement is a linchpin,” attorneys told the court, highlighting how OPIS’s cooperation—including depositions, trial testimony, and document production—will significantly enhance their ability to prosecute claims against other pipe manufacturers accused of conspiring to keep prices artificially high, even after pandemic-induced supply issues had eased.

DOJ Criminal Probe Adds Fuel

The civil case has unfolded in parallel with a criminal grand jury investigation launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in late 2023. Several PVC pipe makers have acknowledged receiving DOJ subpoenas, and OPIS has reportedly already handed over key materials to federal authorities.

Under the proposed deal, OPIS will share those same materials with plaintiffs, further cementing the company’s role as a cooperating party in what may become one of the largest price-fixing cases in the building materials sector in recent memory.

Seven Weeks of Closed-Door Negotiations

According to court filings, the non-converter class began negotiations with OPIS over seven weeks before direct purchasers were brought into the fold. The staggered strategy ultimately enabled OPIS to reach a comprehensive resolution covering all purchaser classes. However, Judge Hunt held off on ruling immediately, taking the motions under advisement while the plaintiffs prepare formal notice plans for the proposed settlement.

High-Powered Legal Teams on All Sides

Plaintiffs are represented by a formidable coalition of firms, including Pearson Warshaw LLP, Cohen Milstein, Scott + Scott, Kaplan Fox, and others. On the defense side, OPIS and co-defendants are backed by elite firms such as Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Mayer Brown LLP, and White & Case LLP.

The case continues in the Northern District of Illinois, where it has drawn national attention for its potential implications across the construction supply chain.