Below you will find the answers to some questions that are commonly asked of our antitrust lawyers.
Q: I am aware of antitrust violations at my employer, how should I report them? A: Call our lawyers at 1-800-934-2921 we will represent you, you identity will be protected and your consultation confidential.
Q: How do you prove antitrust violations? A: Every case is fact specific. No formal agreement usually exists between conspirators. But evidence can include direct evidence from witnesses, participants, employees, administrative assistants. Often the case will be made from indirect evidence such as suspicious bid patterns, or an analysis of the market in question.
Q: What are the penalties for Antitrust Law Violations? A: The government can bring criminal charges and levy massive fines upto $100 million per offense. Our lawyers will bring civil lawsuits for damages and may also work with the government to stop the conduct.
Q: What are the most common violations? A: The most commonly encountered violations involve price fixing in industries with few competitors. The sellers agree on what prices to charge by set a fixed price or agreeing to not sell below a certain price. Bid rigging in which firms agree to bid in a manner that assures that a certain firm submits the winning bid is common in state, local and government contracts.
Q: Does price fixing mean the price must be the same? A: No. Price fixing takes many forms and includes any agreement that restricts price competition such as establishing set price discounts; holding prices firm; eliminating or reducing discounts; adopting an industry standard formula for calculating prices; sticking to a minimum fee or price schedule; agreements to offer the same fixed credit terms; agreements not to advertise prices and other behavior.
Q: What is Market Allocation? A: Market allocation or Division is an antitrust violation in which competitors divide up markets among themselves. These firms may divide up customers, products or geographic territories.
Q: What Industries are more prone to Antitrust violations? A: Antitrust violations tend to be prevalent in markets with few sellers, the smaller number of sellers means that it is easier to agree on prices, bids, customers or territories. Additionally if the products are rare or not easily substituted that risk of violations increases.
