Leaders in Antitrust Law
Blecher & Collins has earned an unparalleled reputation in the field of antitrust litigation. Our law firm has been at the forefront of major developments in antitrust law over the last three decades, and our cases are routinely cited in other anti-competition and restraint-of-trade litigation throughout the United States.
Founding partner Maxwell M. Blecher is a recognized authority on antitrust and competition law, and he has litigated numerous landmark cases before the California and U.S. Supreme Courts. Through these precedent-setting decisions, Blecher & Collins opposed some of the largest entities in the country and reined in their monopolistic practices. Conversely, we have successfully defended major corporations against unfounded civil antitrust suits waged by competitors and the Department of Justice.
Representative Cases in Antitrust Litigation
Blecher & Collins has prosecuted and defended a wide spectrum of cases in state and federal courts in California, Hawaii, New York and nationwide. A brief sampling of our successful results includes:
- Obtained a jury verdict in favor of a local exchange carrier in litigation against Pacific Bell for monopolizing or attempting to monopolize telephone service in California
- Favorably settled antitrust claims for our clients, Los Angeles County and other municipalities, against companies alleged to have fixed prices in the national gas industry
- Favorably settled a claim by independent sellers of Yellow Pages advertising against publishers accused of conspiring to eliminate commissions
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of national movie theater chain against competitor alleging an antitrust conspiracy with the major motion picture studios
- Obtained summary judgment in federal district court in favor of a Las Vegas resort in a case alleging Sherman Act antitrust violations
- Successfully defended at trial and on appeal a national movie theater chain against charges of monopolization and restraint of trade brought by U. S Department of Justice
- Successfully defended a major oil company in an alleged antitrust class action suit resulting in a landmark California Supreme Court decision
- Favorably settled claims brought on behalf of a bicycle component manufacturer in litigation involving its patented products
- Favorably settled a price discrimination claim by a cigarette retailer against a cigarette manufacturer
- Effectively resolved claims against a professional sports league on behalf of an apparel manufacturer
- Favorably settled an antitrust case for a major waste management and trash collection company against its competitor
- Saved the business of a major seller of farm equipment threatened with termination by the manufacturer
Our trial lawyers are known for aggressive representation and progressive application of the Sherman Act, Clayton Act, Robinson-Patman Act and other federal laws, as well as the Cartwright Act, Unfair Business Practices Act and other protections under California law. We have handled cases alleging conspiracy to create a monopoly or collusion to establish a cartel, involving such anti-competitive practices as:
- Price fixing
- Price discrimination
- Predatory pricing
- Below cost pricing
- Monopolization and attempted monopolization
- Illegal tying, bundling or tie-ins
- Boycotting of sellers who refuse to engage in wrongful practices
- Allocation of "turf" (customers, territories)
Explore Your Potential Claims With Blecher & Collins — A Firm With A Proven Track Record
Based in Los Angeles, Blecher & Collins has served as lead counsel, co-counsel and local counsel in antitrust cases in jurisdictions across the United States, representing small business, medium-sized companies and large corporations. Contact us to arrange a consultation. Our attorneys welcome inquiries and referrals from other law firms.
