What penalties can be imposed for antitrust violations?

In Washington, antitrust violations may be punished through civil, criminal, or administrative action. Civil actions or lawsuits involve fines or reparations to injured parties, while criminal actions result in jail time and fines. Administrative action is handled by the state or Federal Trade Commission, and can include monetary fines and/or orders to no longer engage in certain prohibited activities. In civil cases, antitrust violations may result in large monetary fines for both individuals and corporations. For example, if a company is found to be in violation of antitrust law for price fixing, it may incur a penalty of up to three times the amount of the overcharge. Individuals may face penalties of up to $100,000 in fines or a year in prison. In criminal cases, an individual may be subject to $10 million in fines or even up to 10 years in prison. Companies can face fines of up to $100 million in criminal antitrust violations. Administrative action may include orders for companies to stop certain activities and monetary fines. For example, if a company is found to be in violation of antitrust laws, the FTC may order them to stop their activities and at the same time fine them up to $40,000 or $10,000 per day until they comply. Overall, the penalties for antitrust violations in Washington depend on the severity of the violation, and whether the case is handled through civil, criminal, or administrative action.

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