Source: The National Law Review
Summary
Two class action complaints have been filed against major containerboard manufacturers, including International Paper, WestRock, and Packaging Corporation of America, following a Department of Justice (DOJ) indictment last month. The complaints allege a years-long conspiracy to restrict container output and raise prices. The DOJ’s indictment claimed that the companies had agreed to fix prices and restrict capacity from 2010 to 2017. The class action complaints seek damages and injunctive relief on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of containerboard products.
Our Reading
The trend returns with a new name.
The same manufacturers, same allegations, same price-fixing schemes. The only thing that changes is the year. The containerboard industry’s history of anticompetitive behavior is well-documented. The DOJ’s indictment and subsequent class action complaints are just another chapter in this ongoing saga. The question remains: how long will it take for the industry to learn from its mistakes? The answer, much like the prices, remains fixed.
Author: Evan Null
