In 2026 two federal class action lawsuits were filed accusing the seven dominant U.S. HVAC manufacturers (Carrier, Trane, Daikin, Bosch, Lennox, Rheem, and AAON) of conspiring to fix equipment prices since January 2020. Berg v. Robert Bosch LLC represents homeowners and end users. Isom v. Trane Technologies (Case 2:26-cv-11294, E.D. Mich.) represents HVAC contractors, distributors, and wholesalers as the Direct Purchaser Class. Federal antitrust law allows treble (3x) damages. This hub is the complete investigation: who can join, what evidence has been filed, which states allow indirect-purchaser recovery, and what contractors should be doing right now.
Two Class Action Lawsuits, One Cartel
The Big Seven HVAC manufacturers face two parallel federal class actions. Each has a different plaintiff class and a different recovery path. Start with the case that matches who you are.
Isom v. Trane Technologies
Direct Purchaser Class: HVAC contractors, distributors, and wholesalers who paid inflated invoices from January 2020 onward. Case 2:26-cv-11294, E.D. Mich.
Read the contractor briefingBerg v. Robert Bosch LLC
Consumer Class: Homeowners and end users who purchased HVAC equipment from the Big Seven manufacturers since 2020.
Read the consumer briefingWho Should Read What
Pick your starting point. Each path leads through the most relevant articles in the investigation.
HVAC Contractors
You may qualify as a direct purchaser. Start with the contractor class action.
Read Isom v. TraneHomeowners
End users sued separately as the consumer class. Start with Berg v. Bosch.
Read Berg v. BoschDistributors & Wholesalers
Direct purchasers in the contractor class. See the 30-state eligibility list.
Check eligibilityAttorneys & Researchers
Read the full 106-page federal complaint and historical precedents.
Open the filingThe Full Investigation
Every article in the HVAC price-fixing class action series, organized by topic. Each page is self-contained and links back to this hub.
The HVAC Price-Fixing Class Action Investigation
What HVAC Contractors Should Do Right Now
- Preserve every equipment invoice from January 2020 onward (PO numbers, model numbers, distributor names, prices paid).
- Confirm your state's status on the 30-state Illinois Brick Repealer list before deciding whether to recover federally or under state law.
- Read the full Isom v. Trane complaint to understand the specific allegations and evidence already on the record.
- Do not change accounting practices in a way that destroys historical pricing data.
- Keep marketing your local business. Settlements are years away. Lead flow today is what protects margins now.
