Recent Articles

Britain Eyes Merging Merger Cops

Constantine Cannon
October 20, 2010 13:05

The United Kingdom’s two antitrust agencies will be merged if a proposed consolidation that seeks to streamline the British regulatory process passes its own merger review by the government. Currently, the U.K. employs two regulatory bodies to scrutinize competition activity, the Office of Fair...

Antitrust Regulators Will Be Navigating Health Care Reform In Evaluating New Accountable Care Organizations

Constantine Cannon
October 18, 2010 13:27

While doctors and medical organizations have long had to navigate antitrust concerns in their practices, antitrust regulators will now have to consider health care reform in evaluating collective action by health care providers in groups known as care accountable care organizations (“ACOs”). ACOs...

EU College Of Commissioners May Promote Antitrust Class Action Plan Despite Last Year’s Failing Grade

Constantine Cannon
October 15, 2010 22:24

Although the American version of class actions may still be viewed as an unwelcome immigrant by businesses in Europe, the European Commission appears to be reviving efforts to fashion its own kinder, gentler, European version of class actions for antitrust violations. Recent reports indicate that...

Wells Fargo A Day Late And A Dollar Short In Bid For Visa Check/MasterMoney Settlement Funds

Constantine Cannon
October 15, 2010 13:59

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a district court ruling that dismissed belated claims by Wells Fargo to participate in the groundbreaking settlements of the Visa Check/MasterMoney Antitrust Litigation.  The settlements, finalized in 2005, involved payment of $3.05 billion by...

You Say Potato, Plaintiffs Say Conspiracy In “OPEC Of Potatoes” Case

Constantine Cannon
October 14, 2010 14:05

A group of Wisconsin consumers is asking the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin to mash the alleged “OPEC of potatoes” in a class action alleging price fixing by a purported cartel of U.S. and Canadian potato growers and their co-conspirators, including leading agricultural...

Supreme Court Declines Review Of Strict Price Discrimination Standard

Constantine Cannon
October 12, 2010 14:11

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review Feesers, Inc. v. Michael Foods, Inc., 591 F.3d 191 (3d Cir. 2010), cert. denied, No. 09-1499, a competitor price-discrimination action brought under the Robinson-Patman Act, after the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit instructed the district court...

Energizer Bunny Navigates Razor’s Edge In Bid For American Safety Razor Company

Constantine Cannon
October 08, 2010 13:44

Despite looming antitrust hurdles, Energizer Holdings Inc. is one step closer to acquiring a bankrupt shaving products competitor after the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware granted Energizer permission to bid on American Safety Razor Company. American Safety filed for Chapter 11...

Court Puts Phone Depositions On Do Not Call List In Marine Hose Antitrust Litigation

Constantine Cannon
October 06, 2010 15:47

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida has denied a motion by class action plaintiffs in the In re Marine Hose Antitrust Litigation case to take “trial depositions” of foreign-based witnesses by telephone, including corporate executives residing in Japan, France, and...

DOJ Puts Conspirators On Ice In Refrigerator Compressor Cartel

Constantine Cannon
October 05, 2010 13:58

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the first guilty pleas in its ongoing investigation into a price-fixing cartel in the worldwide refrigerator compressor market. According to the DOJ, Japan-based Panasonic Corp. and Embraco North America Inc., a Brazilian subsidiary of Whirlpool Corp.,...

Aussie Mining Giant Clears U.S. Hurdle In Hostile Bid For Canada’s Potash

Constantine Cannon
October 04, 2010 13:11

Australian mining giant BHP Biliton Ltd. Has won its first regulatory approval – from U.S. antitrust authorities – in its $39 billion dollar hostile bid to take over Canada’s Potash Corp., the world’s largest producer of potash, a key crop nutrient used in fertilizer.    BHP has announced that the...