Case Details

Year Initiated/Committed

1997

Year Resolved

1999

Settlement Amount

$150,000

Court

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Docket Number

97 Civ. 0897 (AKH)

Lead State

NY

Participating States

NY

Defendant(s)

Asian American Tourist Inc., Chi-Am Tours, Inc., Five-Star Tours International Inc., Jonathan Travel & Tours Inc., New Golden Horse Tours, Inc., Safeway Tours International (U.S.A.) Inc. Kwok Ho Chu, Jonathan Wong, Tony Wong, and Tie Min Zhuang

Case Description

Defendant companies owned and operated Chinese-language bus tours originating in, and returning to, New York City, and traveling to destinations both within and without New York State. New York alleged that competing bus operators discussed and agreed on prices to charge for the bus tours. After opening statements were delivered at trial, New York agreed to settlement terms with Asian American Tourist Inc., Chi-Am Tours, Inc., Five-Star Tours International Inc., Jonathan Travel & Tours Inc., New Golden Horse Tours, Inc., Safeway Tours International (U.S.A.) Inc., each paying $22,000 to the State of New York. The remaining defendants: Kwok Ho Chu, Jonathan Wong, Tony Wong, and Tie Min Zhuang were ordered to pay $10,000 to the State of New York. Defendants were also enjoined from engaging in any contract, combination, or conspiracy whose purpose is to fix, peg, raise or stabilize price. Further, the defendants agreed to institute a compliance and reporting programs.