Puerto Rico v. Beltran et al.,
Puerto Rico filed administrative charges against 34 school bus contractors who provided services to the state Department of Education, alleging that they agreed to fix prices and reduce services to a number of municipalities, as well as limiting geographic markets. the parties paid $170,000 and agreed to injunctive provisions to prevent future violations.
Washington v. National Express Group, No. 2:12-cv-00757 (W.D. Wash. Apr. 30, 2012)
National Express, a national provider of school bus services, sought to acquire Petermann Partners. After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Washington and Texas Attorneys General, the parties agreed with USDOJ to sell eight school bus transportation contracts in the states of Texas and Washington to Student Transportation of America Inc. (STA). Under a separate consent decree with the state of Washington, the parties also agreed to notify the Attorney General of Washington before any future acquisitions for the next ten years. The parties also agreed not to take any action to impede a successful bidder on a contract from obtaining leased depot and repair facilities.
Massachusetts v. First Group, PLC
Eleven states alleged that the merger would substantially lessen competition in numerous markets for the procurement of School Bus Services within the Plaintiff States. Settlement required divestitures of routes and depots, provision o fmaintenance services, no non-compete agreements, notice to the states of future acquisitions, and no coercion to include certain bid specifications plus $1.1 million in attorneys fees.
Michigan ex rel. Kelley v. C.R. Equip. Sales, Inc., 898 F. Supp. 509 (W.D. Mich. 1995)
In suit following successful DOJ criminal case, state of Michigan, on behalf of its 500 school districts, sought damages for bid-rigging on school buses and bus bodies.
Michigan v. C.R. Equipment Sales, Inc. (W.D. Mich. Nov. 1994)
State filed suit against school bus distributors after guilty pleas in federal investigaiton. Distributors settled for $1.3 million damages and injunctive relief.