Justice News

Justice Department Sues Live Nation-Ticketmaster for Monopolizing Markets Across the Live Concert Industry

Thu, 23 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter Delivers Remarks on Lawsuit Against Live Nation-Ticketmaster for Monopolizing Markets Across the Live Concert Industry

Thu, 23 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Thank you, Attorney General Garland and Deputy Attorney General Monaco.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco Delivers Remarks on Lawsuit Against Live Nation-Ticketmaster for Monopolizing Markets Across the Live Concert Industry

Thu, 23 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Thank you, Mr. Attorney General — and good morning, everyone.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks on Lawsuit Against Live Nation-Ticketmaster for Monopolizing Markets Across the Live Concert Industry

Thu, 23 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Good morning. Earlier today, the Department of Justice, joined by 29 states and the District of Columbia, sued Live Nation Entertainment and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ticketmaster, for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Justice Department Sues Live Nation-Ticketmaster for Monopolizing Markets Across the Live Concert Industry

Thu, 23 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department, along with 30 state and district attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation-Ticketmaster) for monopolization and other unlawful conduct that thwarts competition in markets across the live entertainment industry. The lawsuit, which includes a request for structural relief, seeks to restore competition in the live concert industry, provide better choices at lower prices for fans, and open venue doors for working musicians and other performance artists.

Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission Seek Information on Serial Acquisitions, Roll-Up Strategies Across U.S. Economy

Thu, 23 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) jointly launched a public inquiry to identify serial acquisitions and roll-up strategies throughout the U.S. economy that have led to consolidation and harmed competition.

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter Delivers Remarks at the American Economic Liberties Project 2024 Antimonopoly Summit

Tue, 21 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Good morning, everyone. My name is Jonathan Kanter, and I represent the people of the United States of America.

Justice Department and Stanford University to Cohost Workshop “Promoting Competition in Artificial Intelligence”

Tue, 21 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department and Stanford University will hold a public workshop on May 30 to discuss the state of competition across the Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology industry from the chip to the app.

Sports Equipment Sales Professional Pleads Guilty to Long-Running Bid Rigging Schemes and Conspiracy to Defraud Public Schools

Mon, 13 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A former sales employee of a manufacturer and distributor of football helmets and other sports equipment pleaded guilty today for his role in three separate conspiracies — two conspiracies to rig bids in violation of the Sherman Act and one conspiracy to commit wire fraud — all related to sports equipment for schools located in Mississippi and elsewhere. At least 100 schools throughout Mississippi and elsewhere were victims of these conspiracies.

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter Announces Task Force on Health Care Monopolies and Collusion

Thu, 09 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department today announced the formation of the Antitrust Division’s Task Force on Health Care Monopolies and Collusion (HCMC). The HCMC will guide the division’s enforcement strategy and policy approach in health care, including by facilitating policy advocacy, investigations and, where warranted, civil and criminal enforcement in health care markets.

Executive Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Monopolize, Rig Bids and Allocate Territories for Wildfire Services

Wed, 08 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The former owner of contractor companies that provided fuel truck services to the U.S. Forest Service’s wildfire fighters pleaded guilty today to conspiring to monopolize, rigging bids and allocating territories in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The plea follows a judicially authorized wiretap investigation that led to the indictment of two executives in December 2023.

Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission, and Department of Health and Human Services Extend Comment Period on Public Inquiry into Impact of Corporate Ownership Trend in Health Care

Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Health and Human Services are extending the comment period for the Request for Information on Consolidation in Health Care Markets (RFI) by 30 days. The new deadline is June 5.

The Justice Department Supports More Competition and Lower Prices for Communications from Jails and Prisons

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division today filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of efforts to lower prices and improve the quality of incarcerated people’s communications services (IPCS).

Justice Department and FTC Submit Joint Comment to FERC Explaining that Common Ownership by Investment Companies Can Raise Competition Concerns

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today jointly submitted a public comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging it to consider the competitive risks of common ownership when assessing acquisitions involving less than a controlling interest in competing firms.

TopBuild Abandons Proposed Acquisition of SPI After Antitrust Division Concerns

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

TopBuild Corp. announced its decision today to abandon its proposed $960 million acquisition of its rival, SPI Parent Holding Company (SPI). The abandonment comes after the department’s competition concerns.

Federal Agencies Launch Portal for Public Reporting of Anticompetitive Practices in Health Care Sector

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today launched an easily accessible online portal for the public to report health care practices that may harm competition.

Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force Announces Four New National Law Enforcement Partners

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department announced today that the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is adding four new national partners for a total of 38 agencies and offices committed to deterring, detecting, investigating and prosecuting antitrust crimes and related schemes that target government procurement, grants and program funding at all levels of government.

Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission hold Fourth U.S.-EU Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, Chair Lina M. Khan of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager of the European Commission met today in Washington, D.C., for the fourth meeting of the U.S.-EU Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue (TCPD). The principals and senior staff met to continue to cooperate in ensuring and promoting fair competition in the digital economy.

Antitrust Division Provides Agency Update at the ABA’s 2024 Spring Meeting

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

U.S. Court of Appeals Confirms Justice Department’s Authority to Investigate Potentially Anticompetitive Conduct by the National Association of Realtors

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit lifted restrictions imposed by a lower court that had prevented the Justice Department from investigating potentially anticompetitive conduct by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The D.C. Circuit’s decision confirms the United States’ position that it retains the authority to investigate NAR’s Participation Rule and Clear Cooperation Policy to protect competition for the benefit of homebuyers.

Two Warner Bros. Discovery Directors Resign after Justice Department Expresses Antitrust Concerns

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department announced today that two directors of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. (WBD) have resigned from the WBD board after the Antitrust Division expressed concerns that their positions on both the WBD and Charter Communications Inc. boards violated Section 8 of the Clayton Act (Section 8). Section 8, which Congress made a per se violation of the antitrust laws, prohibits the same person or company from serving simultaneously on the boards of competitors, subject to limited exceptions. The division’s enforcement efforts to date have unwound or prevented interlocks involving at least two dozen companies.

Readout of Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force’s Summit in Atlanta

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) hosted a summit today where procurement officials and law enforcement partners from across the Atlanta metropolitan area convened to raise awareness of collusion, corruption and fraud schemes that target government spending. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber for the Northern District of Georgia, PCSF Director Daniel W. Glad, Trial Attorneys Brittany E. McClure and Vijay N. Rao of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and federal law enforcement partners were joined by representatives from state and local government agencies.

Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission File Statement of Interest in Hotel Room Algorithmic Price-Fixing Case

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department joined by the Federal Trade Commission (collectively the “Agencies”), filed a statement of interest with the District of New Jersey in the case of Cornish-Adebiyi v. Caesars Entertainment, which explains that hotels cannot collude on room pricing and cannot use an algorithm to engage in practices that would be illegal if done by a real person.

Fresh Express Abandons Proposed Acquisition of Dole’s Packaged Salad Business in Response to Antitrust Division’s Concerns

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Today, Fresh Express Acquisition LLC’s, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiquita Holdings Limited (Chiquita), announced its decision to abandon its proposed $308 million acquisition of Dole plc’s Fresh Vegetables division. The abandonment comes in response to the department’s concerns about competition in the packaged salad market.

Assistant Attorney General Kanter Discusses Competition in the Banking Sector During Fireside Chat

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000