In Mike Madani et al. v. Shell Oil Co. et al., Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a putative class action filed by gas station owners in California accusing Shell Oil Co., Chevron Corp., and Saudi Refining Inc. of engaging in a scheme to fix fuel prices for U.S. franchise owners during […]
Category Archives: Cartel Activity
Price-Fixing Action Against Oil Companies Dismissed by Ninth Circuit As Time-Barred
December 16, 2009 – 12:13 am
Sixth Company Pleads Guilty For Conspiracy To Fix Liquid Crystal Display Panel Prices
December 14, 2009 – 12:13 pm
In U.S. v. Chi Mei Optoelectronics, Chi Mei Optoelectronics has pled guilty and agreed to pay $220 million in criminal fines for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices of liquid crystal display panels. The U.S. Department of Justice alleged that Chi Mei and five other co-conspirators agreed during meetings, conversations and […]
Auto Filter Price-Fixing Suit To Move Forward
December 2, 2009 – 10:21 am
In In Re: Alftermarket Filters Antitrust Litigation, MDL, Northern District of Illinois Judge Robert W. Gettleman has rejected a request by manufacturers including Honeywell International Inc., Wix Filtration Corp., and United Components Inc. to dismiss consolidated putative class action suits alleging price-fixing in the market for automotive filters under heightened pleading standards of Bell Atlantic […]
Unity Of Purpose Saves Parent Company From A Verdict Of Conspiracy With Subsidiaries
December 2, 2009 – 10:18 am
In Princeton Insurance Agency Inc. et al. v. Erie Insurance Co. et al., West Virgina Supreme Court of Appeals overturned a $4.2 million jury verdict against Erie Indemnity Co., ruling that the decision by Erie and its subsidiaries to terminate a contract with Princeton Insurance Agency did not constitute restraint of trade under the Sherman […]
Federal Court Certifies Classes in SRAM Price Fixing Case
December 2, 2009 – 9:58 am
A federal antitrust investigation of the SRAM chip manufacturing industry has led to a multi-class consolidated multi-district litigation in the Northern District of California. The case alleges price fixing from 1996 through 2006. Judge Claudia Wilken has certified nationwide classes of direct and indirect purchasers as well as state classes.
Air Travel Price Fixing Case Dismissed For Lack Of Anti-Competitive Effect
December 1, 2009 – 4:14 pm
In McLafferty v. Deutsche Lufthansa AG et al., Eastern District of Pennsylvania Judge Louis H. Pollack dismissed a putative class action brought by an American who accused four foreign airlines, including Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Air France, of conspiring to fix price of air travel between Europe and Japan. The court ruled that the Foreign […]
EC Fines Heat Stabilizer Manufacturers
December 1, 2009 – 2:24 pm
The EC has issued fines totally $259 million on 24 companies that produce chemicals used to enhance the heat resistant properties of PVC pipe and to enhance the quality of PVC in other ways. The companies were found to have engaged in price fixing, allocated markets and customers, and exchanged sensitive competitive information from 1987 through […]
EC Imposes Fines in Heat Stabilizer Cartel
November 28, 2009 – 5:46 pm
The EC has fined on 24 companies from 10 different undertakings – Akzo, Baerlocher, Ciba, Elementis, Elf Aquitaine (Arkema France), GEA, Chemson, Faci, Reagens and AC Treuhand – €173m for violating the Article 81 by allegedly fixing the prices of heat stabilizers used in plastic products.
Energy Crisis Antitrust Suit Is Not Barred By The Commodity Exchange Act
October 27, 2009 – 12:32 pm
In In re: Western States Wholesale Natural Gas Antitrust Litigation, District of Nevada Judge Philip M. Pro denied defendants’ bid for a judgment on the pleadings, ruling that antitrust claims against more than a dozen companies in the Western States Wholesale Natural Gas case, which stems from the 2000-2001 energy crisis, are not barred by […]