U.S. SUPREME COURT: Price suit against joint ventures dismissed

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. SUPREME COURT: Price suit against joint ventures dismissed

Bloomberg News
Published March 1, 2006


WASHINGTON -- Joint ventures have broad power to set prices without violating antitrust laws, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in an oil industry case, overturning a ruling that drew a torrent of objections from companies and the Bush administration.

The justices unanimously threw out a lawsuit that accused Royal Dutch/Shell Group and Chevron Corp. of using two joint ventures to jack up prices to 23,000 station owners. A federal appeals court in San Francisco had let the suit go forward.

"As a single entity, a joint venture, like any other firm, must have the discretion to determine the prices of the products that it sells," Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the court.

Coca-Cola Co., Verizon Communications Inc. and Microsoft Corp. joined the oil industry in urging the Supreme Court to shield joint ventures from price-fixing claims.
(snip/...)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0603010196mar01,1,1050557.story?coll=chi-business-hed

[yourout]

1. Wow.....what a suprise.

NOT.

[texastoast]

2. Teddy Roosevelt

is turning in his grave. And he is a real Republican. Unlike the whoredogs in power now. Damn, I almost want to say "Rise up!"

[Charlie Brown]

3. What is up w/these 8-0 rulings? n/t

[Boredtodeath]

4. Argued BEFORE Alito was sworn in

and therefore, Alito can't vote in the case.

[Charlie Brown]

6. I know. But why are Ginsburg, Stevens, Breyer, etc. going along w/this?

[Orangepeel]

7. because, despite accusations to the contrary, they follow the law?

I don't know anything about this case in particular, but based on what I do know about the "good" Justices, I start with the assumption that it was a bad case, rather than the assumption that they are deciding badly. Maybe the law is an ass, but they are probably ruling in a way that is consistent with it.

[Charlie Brown]

8. Does the law say that oil monopolies can price gouge?

I'm not a lawyer, but aren't there safeguards in place to prevent that?

[DrGrishka]

9. He can

It's just a practice not to, unless his vote is deciding.

[jpak]

5. Maybe someone woke up with a horse head in their bed???

:shrug: