Plaintiffs v Avery Dennison Corp., Bemis Co. Inc., Morgan Adhesives Co., and UPM-Kymmene Corp.
$44 Million Antitrust Settlement Related to the Manufacture of Blank, Self-Adhesive Labels Announced
An antitrust class action lawsuit alleging that several companies that manufacture blank, self-adhesive labels had conspired to limit competition among themselves by fixing, maintaining or stabilizing prices, has resulted a $44.3-million settlement.
The lawsuit , according to a press release from O'Malley & Langan.
The conspiracy involved limiting the number of these companies that would operate in particular geographic areas, so that the prices for their products could be kept artificially high, O'Malley said.
The main four defendants in the lawsuit - Avery Dennison Corp., Bemis Co. Inc., Morgan Adhesives Co., and UPM-Kymmene Corp. - sell blank labels to other companies, which print designs and information on the labels, such as the brand name of a product. The labels are used on everything from jars of peanut butter and honey to wine bottles.
Judge Thomas Vanaskie of the United States District Court's Middle District of Pennsylvania signed the $44.3-million settlement of the lawsuit.
The defendants in the lawsuit agreed to the settlement without admitting any liability.
Most of the $44.3 million will be divided among the many companies that bought blank, self-adhesive labels from the defendants between 1996 and 2003.
For more information please contact:
OMalley & Langan, P.C.
Scranton (570) 344-COMP (2667)
Pittston (570) 883-1321
Towanda (570) 265-5800
