In another blow to the Antitrust Division’s criminal section, two scrap metal dealers were acquitted of price-fixing on June 25, 2009. The jury returned its verdict in less than four hours. As reported in the November 16 and March 15, 2008 Posts, the Antitrust Division has lost a number of high profile price-fixing trials including in the magazine paper, DRAM and marine hose cartels. The trials involving the magazine paper and marine hose cartels likewise resulted in quick acquittals with the jury returning not guilty verdicts in both cases in less than two hours. It should be noted, however, that the class action on behalf of victims of the scrap metal cartel resulted in a $20 million damages verdict, which was affirmed on appeal. (See May 16, 2008 Post).
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Posted by : | On : June 15, 2008
On June 2, 2008, the Antitrust Division’s Criminal Section lost a four-day jury trial in the District of Columbia. In United States v. Keitt, 07-CR-041, the defendant was accused of paying a former associate director of the TSA in exchange for favorable treatment in overseeing and administering his company’s contract. The jury acquitted in less than one day. This is the fifth major blow to the Criminal Section within the last year. The March 15, 2008 post discusses the Criminal Section’s four other defeats within the last twelve months — three acquittals after trial and the denial of extradition by the U.K. House of Lords.