Antitrust & Trade Reg.
Feb. 3, 2026
Judge signals Juul Altria antitrust case will proceed to trial
A federal judge said an antitrust challenge to Altria's stake in Juul should go to trial, rejecting summary judgment while expressing skepticism about plaintiffs' Clayton Act claims over acquired "assets" in his tentative order.
Attorneys for tobacco giants Altria and Juul Labs attempted to sway U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick at a hearing in San Francisco Monday, but he said he's planning to let an antitrust case over their recent merger go to trial.
Defendants moved for summary judgment, saying plaintiffs failed to meet the necessary standard to show the merger resulted from a conspiracy and would have anti-competitive effects.
"That's what mergers are. You stop competing 10...
For only $95 a month (the price of 2 article purchases)
Receive unlimited article access and full access to our archives,
Daily Appellate Report, award winning columns, and our
Verdicts and Settlements.
Or
$895, but save $100 when you subscribe today… Just $795 for the first year!
Or access this article for $45
(Purchase provides 7-day access to this article. Printing, posting or downloading is not allowed.)
Already a subscriber?
Sign In