NFL Wants $4.7 Billion Verdict Tossed & Boeing Plea Deal
Jul 10, 2024
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Bloomberg Intelligence's Jennifer Rie and Romano Law's Andres Munoz discuss the NFL's $4.7 billion verdict dispute and Boeing's plea deal. Topics include antitrust cases, regulatory challenges in tech mergers, and Boeing's measures post-plea agreement, with insights on legal battles and market scrutiny.
NFL faces $4.7 billion lawsuit over anti-competitive practices in telecast rights.
FTC focuses on challenging non-competing mergers and defining markets for competition impact assessment.
Deep dives
Federal Lawsuit Against the NFL for Sunday Ticket Pricing
A class-action antitrust lawsuit was filed against the NFL regarding Sunday Ticket pricing, accusing the NFL of anti-competitive practices. The plaintiffs argued that pooling telecast rights led to inflated prices for out-of-market games. Despite similar cases against MLB and NHL being settled, this case against the NFL involved a jury awarding over $4 billion in damages, potentially tripling to $14 billion, raising questions about licensing practices and competition.
Google's Antitrust Trials and Avoidance of Jury Trials
Google paid $2.3 million to avoid a jury trial in an antitrust case, highlighting the preference to have judges decide cases. The Department of Justice's antitrust enforcement efforts against Google's ad business reflect a shift towards more aggressive actions. Results of antitrust trials can impact the tech industry's future competition landscape.
FTC's Actions Against Mergers in Various Industries
FTC's interventions in mergers like Tempur-Sealy and Capri Holdings involve defining markets like premium mattresses and accessible luxury handbags to assess competition impacts. The FTC targets vertical integration deals for scrutiny, signaling a shift towards challenging non-competing mergers. The FTC's enforcement actions reflect a proactive stance under the Biden administration's antitrust policy.
Boeing's Plea Deal Over 737 MAX Crash and Felony Conviction
Boeing's plea agreement over felony charges related to the 737 MAX crash signals a shift towards corporate accountability. The agreement includes fines, safety investments, and an independent monitor. Families of crash victims may oppose the deal, seeking a more comprehensive legal process to address Boeing's responsibility. The plea deal's implications extend to Boeing's future contracts and regulatory relationships.
Jennifer Rie, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Litigation Analyst, discusses the NFL trying to get a nearly 5 billion dollar verdict against it tossed out, plus mergers the FTC is suing over. Andres Munoz, litigation partner at Romano Law, discusses the Boeing deal to plead guilty to criminal conspiracy. June Grasso hosts.