The ongoing antitrust dispute between technology giant Apple, Inc. (“Apple”) and video game developer Epic Games, Inc. (“Epic Games”), captioned in the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple, Inc., No. 21-16506 (9th Cir.), has taken another turn, as both companies have...
Justice Department Scores Big Win Terminating American Airlines-JetBlue Alliance
In U.S.A., et al., v. American Airlines Group, Inc, et al., No. 1:21-cv-11558-LTS (D. Mass.), Judge Leo T. Sorokin of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ordered American Airlines Group, Inc. (“American Airlines”) and JetBlue Airways Corporation (“JetBlue”) to terminate their partnership in the Northeast region. This ruling came...
Super Lawyers® Names Justin Nematzadeh NY Metro Rising Star 2023
New York, New York – Nematzadeh PLLC announced today that Super Lawyers® has included Founder and Managing Attorney, Justin S. Nematzadeh, in its listing of 2023 New York Metro Rising Stars in Antitrust Law, an honor limited to only 2.5% of eligible attorneys.
Super Lawyers ranks the...
Government Antitrust Lawsuits Against Google Are Moving Forward Rapidly
The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and State Attorneys General have launched antitrust lawsuits against Google LLC (“Google”), in essence alleging that Google has unlawfully maintained its monopoly power through exclusionary practices, such as in the markets for online search and search advertising, digital advertising, and the “ad...
FTC Proposes Tougher Privacy Measures Upon Meta Platforms, Inc.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) recently proposed changes to the Stipulated Order for Civil Penalty, Monetary Judgment, and Injunctive Relief with Meta Platforms Inc. (“Meta,” formerly Facebook), entered July 23, 2019, and effective in 2020 (the “2020 privacy order”). This comes after Meta...
Non-Compete Agreements in Jeopardy
Disputes over non-compete, non-solicitation, or no-poach agreements are typically civil matters, rather than criminal ones. However, recent government enforcement and cases highlight how non-compete, non-solicitation, or no-poach agreements between competitors can result in criminal charges. This article examines the potential criminal implications of non-compete, non-solicitation, and no-poach agreements and explores the reinvigorated...
President Biden’s Administration Takes Aim at Junk Fees
Junk fees drive up costs of purchases or services, often without the purchaser’s knowledge nor consent. These fees range from nominal charges to exorbitant sums and occur in industries ranging from banking and real estate to airlines and telecommunications. In response, President Biden’s administration has proposed legislation targeting junk fees across multiple...
U.S. Federal Trade Commissioner Bedoya Addresses the Rights of Gig Workers to Collectively Bargain
In a recent address, Commissioner Alvaro M. Bedoya of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) stated that gig workers classified as independent contractors can organize and collectively bargain for better wages or hours without violating federal antitrust laws.
While Commissioner Bedoya was not announcing a formal policy statement...
Will New York Pass the Twenty-First Century Anti-Trust Act in 2023?
The Twenty-First Century Anti-Trust Act (S933C) cleared the New York State Senate in May 2022, but the legislative session ended without the State Assembly members approving the bill. Antitrust law for New York State claims will have a dramatic tide shift if the bill becomes law in...
Federal Court Sustains Allegations Against Sherwin-Williams for Pricing Scheme Class Action
New York, NY (Law Firm Newswire) February 16, 2023 – In a class action against The Sherwin-Williams Company for alleged deceptive and misleading surcharges, a federal judge sustained, in part, the allegations of the plaintiffs’ class. The company allegedly took part in a bait-and-switch scheme by failing to notify customers about a...