FTC and Plaintiff States v. Deere & Company (N.D. Ill. 3:25-cv-50017)
Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin joined the FTC in filing suit against Deere & Company, a manufacturer of large agricultural equipment including tractors and combines. The Plaintiff States and FTC allege that Deere has restricted the availability of Service ADVISOR, a software tool used to diagnose and repair problems in Deere’s sophisticated equipment, to…
U.S. and Plaintiff States v. Apple, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-04055 (D.N.J. Mar. 21, 2024)
Sixteen states and the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Apple for monopolization or attempted monopolization of smartphone markets in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleges that Apple illegally maintains a monopoly over…
FTC and Plaintiff States v. Syngenta Crop Protection AG, No. 22-cv-828 (M.D. N.C. Nov. 2022)
The FTC and 10 states sued pesticide manufacturers Syngenta Crop Protection and Corteva, Inc. two of the largest pesticide manufacturers operating in the United States. For allegedly paying distributors to block competitors from selling their cheaper generic products to farmers. The complaint alleges that these big pesticide firms run so-called “loyalty programs” in which distributors…
FTC and Plaintiff States v. Amazon.com, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-01495 (W.D. Wash. Sept. 26, 2023)
The FTC and plaintiff states alleged that Amazon, an online retail and technology company, is a monopolist that uses a set of interlocking anticompetitive and unfair strategies to illegally maintain its monopoly power. The lawsuit alleges that Amazon’s actions allow it to stop rivals and sellers from lowering prices, degrade quality for shoppers, overcharge sellers,…
FTC and Plaintiff States v. Amgen, No. 23-CV-3053 (N.D. Ill. 06/22/23)
Plaintiff states joined the Federal Trade Commission’s suit against Amgen’s planned $28 billion purchase of Horizon Therapeutics. The plaintiffs sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction blocking Amgen Inc. and its subsidiaries from completing the proposed acquisition. Horizon Therapeutics PLC makes the only U.S. FDA-approved treatment for thyroid eye disease, Tepezza, and the only FDA-approved…
Settlement Agreement Between Plaintiff States and Citibank (June 2018)
Forty-two plaintiff states reached a $100 million settlement with Citibank for fraudulent conduct involving interest rate manipulation that had a significant impact on consumers and financial markets around the world. UBS’ fraudulent conduct involved the manipulation of LIBOR (the London Interbank Offered Rate). LIBOR is a benchmark interest rate that affects financial instruments worth trillions…
Alabama et al. v. Endo International, No. 3:19-cv-04157 (N.D. Cal. July 19, 2019)
Eighteen states reached a settlement with Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. under which Endo paid $2.3 million to settle allegations it entered into a reverse-payment agreement to obstruct generic competition to Lidoderm, a pain relief patch frequently used to treat shingles. According to the complaint, Endo had an agreement with Watson Laboratories Inc. ensuring Endo would not face…
People v. Western Wisconsin Inspection
The defendants operated businesses that conducted inspections of flammable and combustible liquid storage tanks. The tank inspections were required under federal law. The complaint alleged that in anticipation of submitting bids for new contracts, the defendants agreed not to compete for business in each other’s territories in order to avoid a bidding war. Western Wisconsin Inspection, Inc. (99-CF-1366) pleaded guilty to one felony count of unlawful conspiracy to restrain trade. $25,000 fine, barred from contracts.
People v. Lear, No.99-CF-1365 , People v. Getten, No. 99-CF-1367
The defendants operated businesses that conducted inspections of flammable and combustible liquid storage tanks. The tank inspections were required under federal law. The complaint alleged that in anticipation of submitting bids for new contracts, the defendants agreed not to compete for business in each other’s territories in order to avoid a bidding war. Morris K. Lear pleaded guilty to misdemeanor count of an agreement to injure the business of another , received one year probation and 400 hours of community service. Lear agreed to refrain from bidding on any future petroleum tank inspection contracts with the State of Wisconsin
People v. Barnes, No. 99-CF-1370
The defendants operated businesses that conducted inspections of flammable and combustible liquid storage tanks. The tank inspections were required under federal law. The complaint alleged that in anticipation of submitting bids for new contracts, the defendants agreed not to compete for business in each other’s territories in order to avoid a bidding war. Randall E. Barnes (99-CF-1370) pleaded no contest to misdemeanor agreement to injure business of another. $500 fine, $1500 costs, Barnes agreed to refrain from bidding on petroleum tank inspection contracts with State until June 1, 2001
