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Displaying 3721 - 3740 of 4596

Colegio de Optometras, Edgar Davila Garcia, O.D., and Carlos Rivera Alonso, O.D., In the Matter of

The Commission charged a group of optometrists in Puerto Rico with violating the FTC Act by orchestrating agreements among members of the Colegio de Optometras to refuse, or threaten to refuse, to accept vision and health care contracts except on collectively agreed-upon terms. Two leaders of the group were also charged with facilitating the agreement by urging members not to participate in the vision network. The Commission’s consent order settling these charges bars the group and the two leaders from engaging in such conduct, while allowing them to undertake certain kinds of joint contracting arrangements by which physician participants control costs and improve quality by managing the provision of services. FTC staff worked with the Office of Monopolistic Affairs of Puerto Rico’s Department of Justice on this case.

Type of Action
Administrative
Last Updated
FTC Matter/File Number
051 0044

South Carolina State Board of Dentistry, In the Matter of

The Commission settled a September 15 2003 administrative complaint charging the South Carolina State Board of Dentistry with unlawfully restraining competition by enacting a rule that required a dentist to examine every child before a dental hygienist could provide preventive dental care – such as cleanings – in schools. The Board, which is a state regulatory agency composed primarily of practicing dentists, claimed that its actions were immune from antitrust challenge under the state action doctrine, but that argument was rejected in a 2004 Commission opinion holding that the Board’s conduct was directly contrary to state law. In 2006, the court of appeals dismissed the Board’s interlocutory petition for review for lack of jurisdiction, and the Supreme Court denied certiorari in January 2007. The FTC’s 2007 consent requires the Board to publicly support the current state public health program that allows hygienists to provide preventive dental care to schoolchildren, especially those from low-income families.

Type of Action
Administrative
Last Updated
FTC Matter/File Number
0210128
Docket Number
9311

Service Corporation International, In the Matter of

Consent order permits the acquisition of Equity Corporation International, the fourth largest funeral home and cemetery company in the United States, and requires SCI to divest funeral service and cemetery properties in 14 markets to Carriage Services, Inc. to remedy the anticompetitive effects of the acquisition.

Type of Action
Administrative
Last Updated
FTC Matter/File Number
981 0353
Docket Number
C-3869

American Petroleum Company, Inc.

The Commission charged that a motor oil lubricant importer illegally conspired with its competitors to restrict the importation and sale of these products in Puerto Rico, which resulted in higher prices paid by consumers. According to the FTC’s complaint, during 2005 and 2006, American Petroleum joined with numerous others in the Puerto Rico lubricants industry to lobby for the delay, modification, or repeal of Puerto Rico Law 278, which imposes an environmental recovery fee of 50 cents per quart. With the effective date of the law approaching, the importers adopted a strategy of refusing to import lubricants as a means of forcing a change. The consent order settling the charges bars American Petroleum from conspiring with its competitors to restrict output, refuse to deal, or boycott any lubricant buyer or potential buyer.

Type of Action
Administrative
Last Updated
FTC Matter/File Number
061 0229

Koninklijke Ahold N.V. and Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc., In the Matter of

Ahold would be permitted to acquire Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc. under terms of a consent order, but would be required to divest two BI-LO supermarkets in Georgia -one Milledgeville, and one in Sandersville. The Commission's complaint charged that the acquisition as originally proposed would reduce competition in the retail sale of food and grocery items in supermarkets in the area and would eliminate direct competition between supermarkets owned and controlled by Ahold and those owned or controlled by Bruno's.

Type of Action
Administrative
Last Updated
FTC Matter/File Number
0110247
Docket Number
C-

Actavis Group hf. and Abrika Pharmaceuticals, Inc., In the Matter of

The Commission prevented a merger-to-monopoly in the sale of generic isradipine capsules by challenging the proposed $235 million purchase of Abrika Pharmaceuticals, Inc., by the Actavis Group, an international generic pharmaceuticals company. To maintain competition in the market for this important generic drug, used to lower blood pressure and to treat hypertension, ischemia, and depression, the consent order requires the divestiture of all rights and assets necessary to produce, market, and sell generic isradipine to Cobalt Laboratories, Inc.
Type of Action
Administrative
Last Updated
FTC Matter/File Number
0710063

Dondero, James D. c/o Highland Capital Management, LP, United States of America (for the FTC)

In 2007, the Commission requested that the Department of Justice file a complaint seeking civil penalties against James D. Dondero for violating the filing requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Pre-Merger Notification Act. A stipulation and proposed final judgment was also filed requiring Dondero, parent of Highland Capital Management, L.P., a hedge fund, to pay $250,000 to settle the charges. According to the Commission, Highland failed to file the appropriate premerger documents in 2003 when it acquired shares of Neighborcare, Inc, then known as Genesis Health Ventures, bringing its holdings above the $50 million filing threshold. Upon realizing the error, a corrective filing was made, and Highland outlined steps to avoid future violations. However, in 2005, Highland reported another such violation involving shares of Motient Corporation.

Type of Action
Federal
Last Updated
FTC Matter/File Number
0510184