Every year the FTC brings hundreds of cases against individuals and companies for violating consumer protection and competition laws that the agency enforces. These cases can involve fraud, scams, identity theft, false advertising, privacy violations, anti-competitive behavior and more. The Legal Library has detailed information about cases we have brought in federal court or through our internal administrative process, called an adjudicative proceeding.
Schering-Plough Corporation, In the Matter of
The Commission charged that Schering-Plough’s proposed $14.4 billion acquisition of Organon Biosciences N.V. threatened to substantially reduce competition in the U.S. market for three popular vaccines used to treat poultry, a staple in American food markets. The November 2007 order settling the charges required the sale of assets required to develop, manufacture, and market these vaccines to Wyeth. In addition, Schering-Plough was required to sign a supply and transition services agreement with Wyeth, under which Schering will provide the vaccines for a period of two years, allowing time for the necessary FDA approvals.
Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, The, Inc., and Pathmark Stores, Inc., In the Matter of
The Commission intervened in the proposed $1.3 billion acquisition of Pathmark Stores by Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea (A&P), alleging the transaction would have reduced competition among grocery stores in the highly concentrated markets of Staten Island and Shirley, Long Island, New York. A&P operates stores under the A&P, A&P Super Foodmart, Food Basics, Food Emporium, Super Fresh, and Waldbaum’s banners. The Commission’s consent order required A&P to divest five supermarkets in Staten Island, and one supermarket in Shirley.
Kyphon, Inc., Disc-O-Tech Medical Technologies Ltd. et al., In the Matter of
The Commission challenged Kyphon Inc.’s $220 million proposed acquisition of the spinal assets of Disc-O-Tech Medical Technologies, Ltd. and Discotech Orthopedic Technologies (collectively Disc-O-Tech) as anticompetitive in the market for minimally invasive vertebral compression fracture treatment products in the U.S. Disc-O-Tech’s Confidence products promised real benefits to patients in treating these painful fractures in a minimally invasive way, and threatened Kyphon’s near-monopoly on treatment options. The Commission’s consent order required that Kyphon divest all assets, intellectual property and development rights related to the Confidence brand to an FTC-approved buyer
Proposed Acquisition of Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners V, LP, (Click Holding Company) By Google Inc.
Warner Chilcott Holdings Company III, Ltd.; Warner Chilcott Corporation; Warner Chilcott (US) Inc.; Galen (Chemicals) Ltd.; and Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Barnekow, Merilou; d/b/a Womens Menopause Health Center., In the Matter of
Green Willow Tree, The, LLC, and Robert Burns, In the Matter of
Mylan Laboratories Inc. and E. Merck oHG., In the Matter of
American Renal Associates, Inc., a corporation, and Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., a corporation
Proposed Acquisition of Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh by University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Paul L. Foster, Western Refining, Inc., and Giant Industries, Inc., In the Matter of
The Commission issued an administrative complaint and initiated federal court action to block Western Refining, Inc.’s $1.4 billion proposed acquisition of rival energy company Giant Industries, Inc. to preserve competition in the supply of bulk light petroleum products, including motor gasoline, diesel fuels, and jet fuels, in northern New Mexico. After a week-long trial, the federal district court denied the Commission’s motion for a preliminary injunction, rejecting arguments that Giant had unique opportunities to increase supply and lower fuel prices in northern New Mexico. In October of 2007, the Commission dismissed its administrative complaint, concluding that further prosecution would not be in the public interest.
Duke Energy Corporation, Phillips Petroleum Company, and Duke Energy Field Services L.L.C., In the Matter of
Duke agreed to divest 2,780 miles of gas gathering pipeline in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas to settle antitrust concerns stemming from Duke’s and Phillips Petroleum Company’s proposed merger of their natural gas gathering and processing businesses and its proposed acquisition of gas gathering assets in central Oklahoma from Conoco Inc. and Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation. The new company will be known as Duke Energy Field Services, L.L.C.