On Monday, a Seattle federal court handed a win to Apple and Amazon as it dismissed a consumer antitrust lawsuit against the companies, which alleged they conspired to raise iPhone and iPad prices on Amazon’s platform.
U.S. District Judge Kymberly Evanson in her ruling faulted the plaintiffs’ lawyers for dragging out the litigation after the original plaintiff sought to withdraw from the 2022 case. Evanson said the attorneys misled the court, Apple, and Amazon about the plaintiff’s intent to abandon the proposed class action while attempting to add new plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs were U.S. residents who bought new iPhones and iPads on Amazon starting in January 2019. They alleged that a 2019 agreement between Apple and Amazon violated antitrust laws by restricting the number of competitive resellers.
In May, Hagens Berman said it would not oppose a combined sanction of $223,000 in legal fees to Amazon and Apple after the court concluded, opens new tab that the plaintiffs failed to “candidly and/or accurately describe their client’s intentions.”
The firm in a court filing then said with hindsight “the situation could have been handled better” and vowed to ensure the case was conducted with “the highest degree of professionalism by all involved.”
MacDailyNews Take: Wah, wah. Look for another ambulance to chase, Hagens Berman!
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The post Apple, Amazon win dismissal of U.S. consumer lawsuit over iPhone prices appeared first on MacDailyNews.
