Judge Orders T-Mobile to Face Suit Alleging Anti-Competitive Practices

A federal judge in Chicago has ruled that T-Mobile US must face a lawsuit brought by AT&T and Verizon subscribers who claim that T-Mobile’s merger with rival Sprint negatively impacted competition and led to billions of dollars in additional expenses for wireless services. The lawsuit alleges that the $26 billion merger resulted in higher prices for consumers, reported Reuters.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin issued a 41-page ruling on Thursday, stating that the plaintiffs had made “plausible” arguments that the price hikes were a direct consequence of the merger. The consumers’ lawsuit in Chicago is pursuing a class action on behalf of seven AT&T and Verizon subscribers in Illinois and Indiana, who have described the T-Mobile-Sprint merger as “one of the most anti-competitive acquisitions in history.”

Brendan Glackin, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, expressed their gratitude for the court’s “well-considered order” and their eagerness to proceed with the case.

Under federal antitrust law, consumers, small businesses, and others have the right to pursue private challenges to mergers or acquisitions, separate from government enforcement actions.

Related: T-Mobile To Buy Ryan Reynolds’ Mint Mobile For Up to $1.35 Billion

Although a group of states had previously sued over the T-Mobile-Sprint deal, a federal judge in Manhattan ruled against them in 2020, clearing the path for the merger to proceed. The U.S. Department of Justice was not part of the lawsuit but reached a settlement with the merged company, which required the divestiture of some assets to satellite operator DISH Network.

Notably, AT&T and Verizon are not directly involved in the case. AT&T declined to comment on Friday, and Verizon had not immediately responded to requests for comment.

T-Mobile’s attorneys, on the other hand, described the lawsuit as “unprecedented” and argued that the plaintiffs’ damages were based on speculation. They suggested that if the subscribers were dissatisfied with AT&T and Verizon, they had the option to switch to T-Mobile, as the wireless market offers competitive alternatives.

The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for the telecommunications industry, potentially reshaping the landscape of wireless services and competition. The case will now proceed to trial, where both sides will present their arguments and evidence.

Source: Reuters