Recent DOJ Antitrust Cartel Trials

At the beginning of 2022, the DOJ scored a trial victory against a government contractor in a big rigging case. Since then, however, the DOJ has suffered trial losses in multiple high-profile cases. In the DOJ’s first-ever trials involving no-poach and wage-fixing charges, the juries returned not guilty verdicts in favor of the corporate and individual defendants. In the DOJ’s price-fixing case against chicken industry executives, the jury found the 5 remaining defendants not guilty. This trial loss came after two earlier mistrials resulted in DOJ dropping the charges against other defendants and having to respond to the judge’s questions about the appropriateness of a third trial.

Despite these recent setbacks, the DOJ Antitrust Division has signaled that it will “continue to bring cases” and is “not backing down.” True to its word, the DOJ Antitrust Division has a number of upcoming criminal trials where it will seek to get back on a winning streak.

Speakers

Moderator: Juan A. Arteaga, Crowell & Moring LLP

Anna T. Pletcher, O'Melveny

Thomas M. Melsheimer, Winston & Strawn

Ripley Rand, Womble Bond Dickinson