Federal antitrust law prohibits many forms of "anticompetitive" conduct. Under the federal antitrust laws, including the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act and the Robinson Patman Act, various combinations, contracts and other conduct (including unilateral acts which restrain trade or constitute price discrimination) are unlawful and may give rise to a claim for damages. Under certain circumstances, such claims may be brought by competitors of the antitrust violator as well as by ordinary consumers who suffer the anti-competitive impact of antitrust violations. Persons who are injured by reason of an illegal restraint of trade may sue and in some cases may recover three times the amount of the actual damages suffered. Some of the principal types of illegal conduct that violate federal antitrust laws are:

   Friday, July 04th, 2008