Antitrust
State attorneys general have a rich history of antitrust enforcement. Expressly authorized to enforce federal antitrust laws in federal court, state attorneys general also enforce their own state antitrust statutes. Attorneys General often work on a multistate basis with each other and with the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division, the Federal Trade Commission, businesses, and the private bar to protect consumers from violations of antitrust law.
Resources
NAAG Antitrust Website
The best source for comprehensive information about state attorney general antitrust authority and action can be found at the National State Attorney General (NAAG) website:
This site includes a comprehensive list of state attorney general policies and practices and a break down of specific industry working groups. It also contains searchable database on all state antitrust cases from 1990 to 2020.
State Litigation and AG Activity Database
The best resource for tracking specific multistate cases and settlements, including actual court filings, is the website maintained by Marquette Political Science Professor Paul Nolette:
Prof. Nolette works closely with NAAG and the site is easily searchable and provides up-to-date information not found anywhere else.
The database is augmented for past cases through March, 2019 by the Consumer Protection Report maintained by the State Center:
The State Center
The best compilation of materials that outline state antitrust authority and practice, including a robust discussion of both single state and multistate actions, was created for the “Antitrust Bootcamp” held at Loyola University of Chicago School on July 16-17, 2019. It was sponsored by the Center for State Enforcement of Antitrust and Consumer Protections Laws, Enc. (“The State Center”).
Policy Papers and Talks
Renata Hasse, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Protecting Competition Across 50 United States: Advocacy and Cooperation in Antitrust Enforcement, Address Before the American Bar Association Fall Forum (Nov. 17, 2016).
Stephen D. Houck, The State of State Antitrust Enforcement, National State Attorneys General Program, Columbia Law School (Oct. 2009). This report, drafted in advance of the October 9, 2009 “Antitrust Federalism: Enhancing the Federal-State Relationship” conference, provides an overview of the history of state antitrust enforcement, a discussion of antitrust efforts on behalf of states and multi-state coalitions as of 2009, and recommendations to facilitate cooperation between federal and state antitrust agencies.