Florida et al. v. Service Corporation International, No. A13CV1082LY (W.D. Texas Jan. 2, 2014)
SCI, the nation’s largest funeral home chain, sought to acquire Stewart Enterprises, another large funeral home chain. Seven states and the FTC entered into consent agreements with SCI specifying which funeral homes would be divested in 59 separate markets. In a separate consent agreement, SCI agreed to provide the state plaintiffs with the same notices, requirements for approval and compliance review as to divestitures and future acquisitions included in the FTC’s consent decree and to pay the state’s costs and attorneys’ fees..
Florida v. Service Corp. International, In re Service Corp. International, FTC File No. 981-353 (1/15/99)
As part of a negotiated consent decree, the State of Florida and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sought to enjoin the proposed merger between Services Corp. International (SCI) and Equity Corp. International (ECI), alleging that the merger would substantially impair competition among funeral home or cemetery establishments in 14 local markets.
Maine v. Equity Corporation International, No. CV-98-312 (Kennebec Super. Ct. 1998)
Complaint under state merger law resolved by Consent Decree requiring funeral home divestiture.
Texas v. Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens of Brownsville, Texas, Inc., et al. 1991-2 Trade Cas. (CCH) 69,384 (1991)
State of Texas sued Defendants, alleging they conspired to fix prices of crematory services in Cameron & Hildago Counties of Texas
Texas v. Valley Memorial Gardens, Inc., 1991-2 Trade Cas. (CCH) 69,383 (Travis Cty. Texas, 1991)
State alleged violations of state antitrust law in pricing of crematory services
Texas v. Pharr Memorial Association, Inc., 1991-1 Trade Cas. (CCH) 69,382 (Tex. Dist. Ct. 1990)
State sought damages and injunctive relief, alleging that Defendants, Pharr Memorial Association, Inc., Thomas Brokken and Karen Brokken conspired to fix the price of funeral and/or crematory services.
New York v. Service Corporation International, 99 Civ. 11391 (JSM) (S.D.N.Y. final judgment, Nov. 19, 1999)
New York challenged a series of acquisitions that Service Corporation International (SCI) made of funeral homes in New York City that serve the Jewish community, allegedly leading to monopolization of and high prices in that market. The matter was settled by a consent decree requiring SCI to divest a funeral business in Manhattan, Plaza Memorial Chapel, plus two funeral homes in Brooklyn.
