What are the consequences of an antitrust violation?

In Washington, the consequences of an antitrust violation may vary depending on the type of violation and who is involved. Generally speaking, the most serious consequence of an antitrust violation is criminal prosecution. The antitrust laws in Washington, like other states, are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A person or company may be fined up to $100 million if found guilty of an antitrust violation. In addition to fines and prison time, an antitrust violator may have to pay for damages suffered by the victim. For example, if a company is found guilty of price fixing, it may have to reimburse customers who overpaid for the product. The FTC may also take actions such as ordering the violator to divest from certain businesses, stop certain activities, or provide its competitors access to certain resources. An antitrust violation can also result in civil litigation. Companies can sue another company or an individual if they feel they were harmed by antitrust violations. This could include overpaying for a product as a result of price fixing. Private persons may prefer to file a class action lawsuit. Finally, a company may be held accountable for antitrust violations committed by their employees. This means that companies need to be mindful of their employees’ activities to avoid potential antitrust violations.

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