No jail sentences were imposed on individual defendants convicted in the 1940 Supreme Court case of United States v. Socony Vacuum Oil Co. The individuals were each fined $1,000. In 2014, Romano Pisciotti, an Italian citizen, was indicted
Cartel Capers
Cartel Capers, published by Connolly Law, focuses on antitrust law with particular attention to criminal antitrust prosecutions, bid rigging, and the application of the Sherman Act. The blog discusses legal defenses related to the per se rule, political influences on antitrust enforcement, and developments in whistleblower reward programs within the antitrust context. It analyzes significant cases, government enforcement actions, and legislative or regulatory changes affecting competition law. The blog also covers procedural and substantive issues in antitrust litigation, including jury instructions, appeals, and the impact of presidential pardons on antitrust cases.
Latest from Cartel Capers - Page 2
DOJ Filed Cert Petition in United States v. Brewbaker
By Bob Connolly
The Department of Justice has filed a cert petition (here) asking the Supreme Court to reverse a Fourth Circuit decision which held that a bid rigging scheme was not a per se violation…
A Modest Proposal—Antitrust Division Special Counsel for Whistleblower
By Bob Connolly
There has been a series of announcements by the Department of Justice of pilot programs designed to lure “insiders” to expose crimes, particularly financial crimes. The first announcement was a new Whistleblower Pilot Program to financially reward whistleblowers in certain…
DOJ Announces New Whistleblower Incentive Pilot Program—Here’s Hoping the Antitrust Division Gets In On The Action
By Adminccapers
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco gave the keynote speech at the recent ABA Annual White Collar Institute, and announced a new DOJ Program to incentivize individuals with knowledge of corporate financial crimes to come forward. Video here; Print…
All I Want for Christmas….
By Adminccapers
All I want for Christmas is a criminal antitrust whistleblower statute. The SEC, CFTC and other enforcement agencies charged with uncovering and prosecuting financial fraud have had another strong year thanks to their whistleblower programs. These agencies sing the praises…
You Are A Competitor If You Say So–My Disagreement with Fourth Circuit’s Brewbaker Opinion
By Adminccapers
I have not written a blog post in some time. Been busy, or perhaps a bit lazy, but the Fourth Circuit opinion in United States v. Brewbaker, __ F. 4th __(4th Cir. 12/1/2023), 2023 Westlaw 8286490 caught my attention. The…
A Practical Look at Why A Criminal Antitrust Whistleblower Statute is Needed
Below is an updated version of a previous blog post I ran about the need for a criminal antitrust whistleblower statute. Revised with new typos:
I have been advocating for some time that cartel whistleblower legislation be passed. …
The Deterrent Dilemma: Individuals or Corporations? It Should Be Both.
At the recent American Bar Association’s National Institute on White Collar Crime, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite gave major talks outlining further developments inDepartment of Justice’s Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy. The…
The Rule of Lenity and the Per Se Rule
Last week the Supreme Court decided a case interpreting the Bank Secrecy Act, Bittner v. U.S., 598 U.S. __(2023). Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined Justice Neil Gorsuch’s opinion for the majority in a 5-4 decision. The case revolved…
“I Got A Rock”
By Adminccapers
In the Charlie Brown Halloween Special, when the Peanuts gang looks into their goody bag, Lucy says: “I got five pieces of candy.” Sally says: “I got a chocolate bar.” Pigpen says, “I got a quarter.” Charlie Brown says:…