District of Ohio Judge George Smith dismissed an antitrust case against the American Mastiff Breeders Council by a former member. The plaintiff alleged that the council violated the antitrust laws by setting capping the price that could be charged for puppies and by excluding the plaintiff from the organization. The court held that the plaintiff […]
Category Archives: Cartel Activity
Processed Milk Conspiracy Case to Move Forward
August 17, 2010 – 3:21 pm
E.D. Tennessee Judge Ronnie Greer granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants, Dairy Marketing Services and Southern Marketing Agency on monopolization and raw milk conspiracy counts, but denied summary judgment with respect to processed milk conspiracy claims. The case filed by Food Lion and Fidel Breto, dba Family Foods, will now proceed on the remaining […]
Magazine Distribution Boycott Case Dismissed
August 17, 2010 – 10:42 am
Southern District of NY Judge Paul Crotty dismissed a suit filed by bankrupt magazine wholesaler Anderson News against magazine publishers, including Time, Rodale, and American Media. The case arose out of a decision by Anderson to impose a 7% surcharge on magazines to discourage suppliers from shipping excess copies. Rather than accept the surcharge, a […]
Nurses’ Salary Class Action to Move Forward
August 16, 2010 – 2:49 pm
Northern District of NY Judge Thomas McAvoy denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, holding that the allegationsof information exchanges and surpressed wages was sufficient to permit a jury to find both collusive activity and actual anticompetitive effects. The court also denied the one unionized hospital’s motion to dismiss on non-statutory labor […]
Grocery Wholesaler Market/Customer Division Case to Proceed
August 13, 2010 – 4:14 pm
District of Minnesota Judge Ann Montgomery denied the defendants motion to dismiss on statute of limitations grounds arguing that each instance of higher pricing as a result of a market division agreement re-starts the statute. As a result, dismissal was in appropriate even though the agreement was initially entered more than four years ago. The […]
ECJ Upholds Fine Against Plasterboard Cartel Participant
August 12, 2010 – 2:05 pm
The ECJ affirmed an 85.8 million Euro fine against Knauf Gips for its alleged role in a plasterboard cartel, which was part of 478 million Euros in fines placed on four companies.
Class Action Alleging a Conspiracy to Adopt Baggage Fees Moving Forward
August 9, 2010 – 1:43 pm
Update August 2010:The Northern District of Georgia court overseeing what is now multidistrict litigation dismissed the monopolization claims on the ground that the defendants’ conduct could not have monopolized the Atlanta market. The conspiracy to restrain trade claim is proceeding. In Avery et al. v. Delta Air Lines et al., airline passengers filed a […]
EC Imposes Fines in Animal Feed Cartel Case
July 26, 2010 – 2:33 pm
The EC fined animal feed phosphates producers for operating a three-decade cartel covering much of the EU. Animal feed phosphates are chemicals used in feed for cattle, pigs, poultry, fish and pets All but one company settled, receiving a 10% fine reduction. This was the first cartel case settlement where the EC followed both the settlement and ordinary procedures.
EC Fines Prestressing Steel Manufacturers
July 26, 2010 – 2:22 pm
The EC fined prestressing steel manufacturers for participating in an 18-year cartel in almost all EU Member States. Prestressing steel is used with in constructing foundations, balconies or bridges
EC Imposes Fines in Bathroom Equipment Cartel Case
July 26, 2010 – 2:10 pm
The EC has fined bathroom equipment manufacturers for participating in a price fixing cartel in six EU countries. The 12-year cartel included agreements involving sinks, bathtubs, taps, and fittings.