Case Description
The state alleged that on or about December of 1982 Anheuser-Busch and its franchised wholesalers entered into market allocation contracts where each franchised wholesaler was assigned a territory and forbidden from selling Anheuser-Bush beer to distributors outside its assigned area. Following the Anheuser-Bush agreements, Miller, Heilman, and Stroh allegedly entered into similar contracts with their distributors. the state alleged that these contracts eliminated competition among franchised wholesalers in the sale of beer made by these brewers. Various defendants, including Miller and Dana Distributing, entered into settlement agreements. Anheuser-Busch took the matter to trial and prevailed at trial.