Requiring Consumer to Pay Higher Prices
Amazon Anticompetitive Agreements and E-Book Prices Class Action
According to one source, Amazon.com, Inc. accounts for more than 75% of the e-books sold in the US as of September 2020. The complaint in this antitrust class action alleges that Amazon has used its dominant position to restrain price competition in the “trade book” digital book market. Trade books include fiction and nonfiction for Read more
Pinergy MLS Anticompetitive Buyer-Broker Commission Rules Class Action
MLS Property Information Network, Inc. (MLS PIN) owns Pinergy, said by some to be the seventh-largest multiple listing service (MLS) in the US, serving 41,000 real estate professionals in licensed in New England and New York. The complaint for this class action alleges that MLS PIN has engaged in anticompetitive behavior because home sellers must Read more
Viega Copper Fittings Antitrust Settlement
This settlement resolves a class action that made antitrust allegations against Viega, LLC. The complaint claimed that the company would only sell its carbon steel press fittings to distributors who signed an agreement that they would not carry its competitors’ copper fittings. According to the complaint, this resulted in plumbers paying higher prices to buy Read more
Allstate Higher Prices for Loyal Customers Texas Class Action
We expect companies to appreciate long-term customers, perhaps even give them special consideration in some way. But this class action alleges that the Allstate Corporation does the opposite with its auto insurance customers. The complaint claims that Allstate maintains two schemes for charging different rates to policyholders for what are materially the same policies. Read more
Disposable Contact Lens Antitrust Settlement
Two defendants are settling an antitrust case about contact lens pricing, while three others are continuing the litigation. CooperVision, Inc. (CVI) and Bausch & Lomb, Inc. (B&L) have reached settlement agreements in a case claiming that five companies agreed to Unilateral Pricing Policies that set minimum prices and allegedly violated antitrust laws. The litigation is Read more
Hope Cleaners Prices for Men’s vs. Women’s Shirts Class Action
The complaint claims that “in 1994, the State of California estimated that the average woman is charged an extra $1,351.00 per year, simply for being a woman…” How so? Women are often charged more than men for exactly the same product or service. In this class action, the complaint alleges that GreenTree Cleaners, Inc., doing Read more
Massage Envy Changes in Membership Prices Class Action
Do subscribers to Massage Envy’s monthly massage know how much they’re paying for their memberships? The complaint for this class action alleges that many do not know, because Massage Envy Franchising, LLP raises the rates without informing them. Read more
Viega Copper and Carbon Steel Press Fittings Antitrust Class Action
Viega, LLC makes fittings. The complaint for this class action brings suit against it under federal and state antitrust laws, alleging that the company has engaged in anticompetitive behavior in the market for copper press fittings and carbon steel press fittings. Read more
Caustic Soda Makers Anticompetitive Actions Class Action
How do you raise prices for a substance in a market with low margins, declining prices, and an oversupply—like the one for caustic soda a few years ago? According to the complaint for this antitrust class action, some makers decided to take concerted, anticompetitive measures, from the fourth quarter of 2015 to the present. Read more
General Electric Servicing of Gas Anesthesia Machines Antitrust Class Action
This complaint alleges General Electric and subsidiaries have conspired to block competition for the servicing of GE’s gas anesthesia machines. It brings suit under the Sherman antitrust laws—not on behalf of the those so blocked, but on behalf of those who must pay higher prices to have their machines serviced. Read more
