The class action lawsuit filed against Nikon in the US for the D600’s ‘defective’ sensor by Zimmerman & Reed has been settled – those who jumped on board are receiving free D610s.
Nikon has paid over $19 million for the D600
This restitution is exactly what the law firm was seeking back in February, and it looks like Nikon wants to sweep this whole saga under the rug.
While this information was suppose to be kept confidential, one of the possibly thousands of complainants who received the e-mail from Zimmermand & Reed posted it in full on a Fredmiranda forum for all to read. He said he already sold his D600 and had nothing to lose.
Here is the full e-mail text:
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Good afternoon,
Good news!
As a result of your involvement in the Nikon D600 camera lawsuit, Nikon has offered to immediately provide you with a new D610 camera in exchange for settling your individual claim.
In order to accept this settlement offer and receive a D610 you must complete the following steps:
1. Complete and sign the attached Qualifying Statement, Short Form Release, and Confidentiality Agreement.
2. Register your D600 camera at the following link: https://support.nikonusa.com/ci/documents/detail/5/144/12/33a9814ba32973bc88a6c149468e888c2cd1adf5
3. After registering your D600 camera, you will be prompted to create and print a pre-paid UPS Return Label and packing slip.
4. Pack your defective D600 camera, packing slip, and the original signed copy of your Qualifying Statement, Short Form Release, and Confidentiality Agreement in a box, and affix the UPS Return Label. Drop the box off at any UPS facility. (Visit https://www.ups.com/dropoff for hours and locations.) You may also arrange to have your shipment collected by a UPS driver.
5. Once Nikon receives your D600 and the required documents they will mail you a replacement D610 camera.
Please send only your D600 camera, packing slip, and the Qualifying Statement, Short Form Release, and Confidentiality Agreement to this address. When shipping, please secure the D600 camera in a plastic bag inside the shipping box with quality packing material on all sides of the D600 camera. Your D600 must be received in satisfactory working order. Do not include any lenses, batteries, memory cards or other accessories. Also please ensure that your name and address are printed legibly on the Qualifying Statement, Short Form Release, and Confidentiality Agreement.
This settlement offer is completely voluntary. You have until November 30, 2014 to accept this offer. Anyone who chooses not to participate will retain their right to pursue further legal action against Nikon. However, as a result of this offer we will no longer be pursuing legal action against Nikon for its defective D600 cameras.
D600 owners who did not contact our law firm may avail themselves of Nikon’s updated D600 repair and replacement program.
It is critical to note that you must keep this resolution completely confidential, which you agree to do by signing the attached Confidentiality Agreement. Any dissemination of the information contained in this email or the settlement offer may render you ineligible to receive a D610. Please refrain from posting any information about the settlement offer or your replacement D610 on any websites, and refrain from discussing the settlement offer with any other individuals.
Thank you for contacting our law firm and for your participation in the case. Please let us know if you have any questions, and should you need legal representation in the future please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
BRIAN C. GUDMUNDSON | PARTNER
ZIMMERMAN REED, PLLP
1100 IDS Center, 80 South 8th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402 T 612.341.0400
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Other users on the forum who did not sign up to be a complainant in the case were not disheartened, as the Service Advisory issued by Nikon states that all D600 sensors will be cleaned and replaced for free, even after the warranty expires, which applies to Australian owners. If the problem persists, the whole camera will be replaced with ‘a new D600 or an equivalent model.’
Pro Counter contacted Nikon Australia for comment as to whether this case would affect local D600 owners but received no response.