Legal Library: Cases and Proceedings

Input/Output, Inc. and The Laitram Corporation each paid $225,000 in civil penalties to settle charges that Input/Output merged its operations with Laitram's DigiCOURSE subsidiary before observing the statutory waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. According to the complaint, the parties filed notification under HSR in October 14,1998, but Input/Output began its control over DigiCOURSE on October 10, 1998. The complaint and settlement were filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by Commission attorneys acting as special attorneys to the U.S. Attorney General

An association of marine pilots in Oregon agreed to settle charges that it monopolized and unreasonably restrained competition in the market for pilotage services on the Columbia River. The consent order prohibits Columbia River Pilots, a group of approximately 40 marine pilots licensed by the state of Oregon to provide navigational assistance to vessels on the Columbia River, from imposing unreasonable noncompete agreements on its members, allocating customers with any competing pilotage group, limiting any competing pilotage group's size, or restricting exclusive dealing contracts or rate proposals.

A pharmacy association in northern Puerto Rico and Ricardo Alvarez Class settled charges that they engaged in an illegal boycott in an attempt to obtain higher reimbursement rates for pharmacy goods and services under the government's managed care plan for the indigent. The consent order prohibits the members of the association and Mr. Class from engaging in joint negotiations for prices and from threatening to boycott or refusing to provide pharmacy services.