9th Circuit refuses to revive Oregon timber antitrust lawsuit
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of an antitrust lawsuit by Oregon loggers, landowners, and a sawmill against a rival company.Summary
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a lower court’s decision to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit brought by the Malheur Forest Fairness Coalition against Iron Triangle logging company and Malheur Lumber sawmill. The coalition alleged an unlawful “tying agreement” that allowed the defendants to dominate markets within the Malheur National Forest. While the 9th Circuit disagreed with the lower court’s reasoning regarding the Forest Service’s ability to avoid monopoly power, it ultimately found that the plaintiffs failed to adequately plead their antitrust claims with sufficient detail. Specifically, the court found the lawsuit lacked specifics on how Iron Triangle prevented competition for contracts and harvest rights, and did not demonstrate a plausible case of unlawful “tying” or “hoarding” of timber. The appellate court also determined that further amendments to the complaint would be futile, effectively ending the legal challenge.
(Source：East Oregonian)