Zelle Hofmann Attorneys Defeat Antitrust Defense Based on Foreign Conduct
October 13, 2011The federal district court in San Francisco has rejected a summary judgment motion based on the defendants' argument that their price-fixing conduct in the LCD panel market mainly occurred overseas. The ruling, issued on October 5, 2011 by Judge Susan Illston in the In re TFT-LCD (Flat Panel) Antitrust Litigation class action, is a major win for the class plaintiffs, represented by attorneys from the San Francisco office of co-lead class counsel Zelle Hofmann. The defendants' motion raised several unsettled issues regarding the application of United States antitrust laws to conduct that is directed at the U.S. market, but which occurs mainly overseas. The judge endorsed the arguments put forth by Zelle Hofmann attorneys, who represent purchasers of products containing LCD panels, that the "Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvements Act" does not shield the defendants from liability to U.S. consumers who paid more for their LCD products as a result of the defendants' conduct.
