80 chocolate price fixing cases to be combined
A federal judge and many lawyers began the process of figuring out how to consolidate nearly 80 lawsuits that claim chocolate manufacturers conspired to artificially boost prices.The manufacturers are being sued by companies that purchased chocolate directly, those that purchased chocolate indirectly, and consumers.
Hershey lawyers argued that Hershey and the other defendants - units of Mars Inc., Nestle SA and Cadbury Schweppes , as well as a Canadian distributor - deserve the right to seek dismissal before having to start turning over documents that might be used against them.
Investigations into price-fixing allegations in the chocolate industry have been launched by U.S., Canadian and European authorities. About 50 attorneys, representing various clients, attended the hearing.
The defendants filed court papers last week that said parallel pricing behavior is allowed as long as there is no agreement among the companies. They said they planned to seek dismissal because no one has asserted a valid claim under U.S. antitrust law.
The defendants said it was not surprising that chocolate prices rose along with overall food prices.
Hershey lawyers argued that Hershey and the other defendants - units of Mars Inc., Nestle SA and Cadbury Schweppes , as well as a Canadian distributor - deserve the right to seek dismissal before having to start turning over documents that might be used against them.
Investigations into price-fixing allegations in the chocolate industry have been launched by U.S., Canadian and European authorities. About 50 attorneys, representing various clients, attended the hearing.
The defendants filed court papers last week that said parallel pricing behavior is allowed as long as there is no agreement among the companies. They said they planned to seek dismissal because no one has asserted a valid claim under U.S. antitrust law.
The defendants said it was not surprising that chocolate prices rose along with overall food prices.
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