Case Details

Year Initiated/Committed

2014

Year Resolved

2018

Lead State

NY

Participating States

Defendant(s)

Christopher Kline

Offenses

Attempted Combination in Restraint of Trade or Competition (class A misdemeanor)

Sentence Imposed

$37,500 criminal fine

Case Description

Employee of Bert Adams Disposal pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Donnelly Act. According to the indictment, from about July 2014 until May 2016, the company entered into collusive agreements with Taylor Garbage Service to rig bids for waste-hauling, recycling, and related services, and forced customers to pay excessive prices for basic services. The companies conspired through in-person meetings, phone calls, and text messages. According to the plea agreement, over this two-year period, the companies exchanged hundreds of text messages and calls. Their arrangements included, among other methods, the companies agreeing to not pursue the business of each other’s current customers and deciding in advance which company would win a bid, and agreeing. to submit a deliberately inflated bid or price quote – or not to submit a bid at all – to a customer to ensure the incumbent company would keep the contract. CEO and other employee of the company also pled guilty and paid an additional $117,500 in criminal fines, and company paid $850,000. See also, People v. Bert Adams Disposal, People v. Elbert Adams, People v. Bert J. Adams