Case Details

Year Initiated/Committed

1989

Year Resolved

1991

Settlement Amount

$878,576.83

Court

15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida

Docket Number

CL90-723-AA

Lead State

FL

Participating States

FL

Defendant(s)

Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale/Palm Beach Inc., Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Miami, Inc., Larry Smith, Melvin Laszewski, Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Company

Case Description

Florida sought damages and injunctive relief, alleging that The Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale/Palm Beach, Inc. (Pepsi) conspired with the Coca Cola Bottling Company of Miami, Inc. (Coke) to establish a floor for wholesale prices of some soft drink products sold in Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin Counties, Florida. Effectively, the companies allegedly overcharged four grocery chains: Winn Dixie, Albertson’s, 7-Eleven, and Mr. Grocer. In turn, the grocers filed a class action lawsuit against the bottling companies, later represented by the State of Florida.
In order to settle the dispute without further litigation, Pepsi and Coke agreed to refrain from the alleged conduct and agreed to pay $878,576.83 in civil penalties and damages.