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Antitrust Lawyer
United States and Massachusetts antitrust and unfair business practice law prohibits price-fixing, bid-rigging, market allocation schemes, monopolization, and other unreasonably anticompetitive or unfair or deceptive conduct by businesses, whether they are large or small. Shapiro Haber & Urmy LLP, long at the forefront of class action practice nationally, has substantial antitrust expertise, and currently represents consumers and business in a variety of industries.
Shapiro Haber & Urmy was appointed Co-Lead Counsel of the Steering Committee in In re Plasma Derivative Protein Therapies Antitrust Litigation, 09-cv-07666 (N.D. Ill.), and successfully defeated a lengthy and substantial motion to dismiss in that case earlier this year. This is a complex, nationwide putative class action against manufacturers of plasma protein derivative therapies, which are proteins used to treat seriously ill patients across the United States. The action, filed on behalf of all direct purchasers of plasma-derivative protein therapies, alleges that plasma manufacturers agreed to restrict supply and therefore increase prices. In deciding to appoint the firm to its leadership position, the Court highlighted Shapiro Haber & Urmy’s extensive experience litigating complex class actions and its ability to work cooperatively with co-counsel to effectively prosecute the case.
Shapiro Haber & Urmy represents several of the nation’s largest bedding manufacturers and licensers as opt-out Plaintiffs in In re Polyurethane Foam Antitrust Litigation, C.A. No. 10-md-02196 (N.D. Ohio). Plaintiffs allege that Defendants and their co-conspirators contracted, combined or conspired to fix, raise, maintain and/or stabilize prices and allocate customers for polyurethane foam in the United States.
Shapiro Haber & Urmy was appointed to serve as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee representing the class of direct purchasers in the case In re Marine Products Antitrust Litigation, C.A. No. 10-cv-2319 (C.D. Cal.) (continuing as Ace Marine Rigging & Supply, Inc. v. Virginia Harbor Services, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 11-cv-00436 (C.D. Cal) and Board of Commissions of the Port of New Orleans v. Virginia Harbor Services, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 11-cv-00437 (C.D. Cal)). Shapiro Haber & Urmy LLP represents a class of direct purchasers of several products used in the marine industry to protect vessels, docks and piers. The class actions allege that manufacturers of these marine products collaborated to rig bids and divide the market in order to avoid competition and maximize profits. Settlements with certain defendants for more than $5 million and securing extensive cooperation with the continued prosecution of the case are currently pending approval.
Shapiro Haber & Urmy represents a certified settlement class of dairy farmers in the Northeastern United States who allege that Defendants unlawfully monopolized and fixed the prices that they paid the farmers for their milk and unlawfully allocated markets. Defendants include Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Dairy Marketing Services, LLC, and Dean Foods Company. On August 3, 2011, the Court approved the settlement between Plaintiffs and Dean Foods Company that provides for $30 million in settlement funds. The case is entitled Allen v. Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 09-cv-230 in the District of Vermont.
To learn more about Shapiro Haber & Urmy LLP's current antitrust cases, click here.
Shapiro Haber & Urmy LLP has a particular expertise in the application of Massachusetts unfair business law to antitrust actions. Our lawyers have been at the forefront of litigation involving the Massachusetts unfair business practices statute, and the firm is committed to using the statute to obtain relief for individuals and businesses who are the victims of anticompetitive practices. For example, the firm seeks to represent a class of Massachusetts consumers who purchased refrigerators or other cooling devices from certain defendants who allegedly fixed the price of the hermetically-sealed compressors within those appliances. While other firms have pursued actions alleging violations of federal law, Shapiro Haber & Urmy LLP has sought relief on behalf of Massachusetts consumers using the unfair business practices statute passed for their protection.
Business owners or individuals who believe they have been subjected to unreasonably anticompetitive conduct, or to unfair or deceptive business practices, are encouraged to contact us.
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