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US v. Google LLC / State of Colorado v. Google LLC

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Name
Type
Government
Date Initiated
Status
Last Updated

Summary

The Department of Justice, joined by 50 state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging it used anticompetitive tactics to maintain and extend its monopolies in search services and advertising in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The suit claims that Google entered into exclusionary agreements worth billions of dollars with distributors like Apple, Android, and AT&T to become the preset default general search engine for mobile devices and computers, locking them out of deals with Google’s competitors and foreclosing competition for internet search.

Updates

December 17, 2020. The state of Colorado and 37 other states file suit against Google under Section 16 of the Clayton Act.

January 7, 2021. The court consolidates the two cases for pretrial purposes, including discovery.

December 12, 2022. Google files a motion for summary judgment, asking the judge to dismiss the case.

February 16, 2023. The Department of Justice files opposition to Google's motion to dismiss and States files memorandum in opposition.

February 23, 2023. The discovery phase closes in the case. The Department of Justice files memorandum supporting sanctions against Google for failing to preserve evidence.

March 13, 2023. Google files reply to Department of Justice in support of motion to dismiss and files reply to states' opposition.

March 17, 2023. Google files opposition to Department of Justice's motion for sanctions. Department of Justice files reply on March 23, 2023. States file reply on April 4, 2023.

April 27, 2023. Judge Amit Mehta finds there is insufficient evidence to sanction Google for failing to preserve evidence, but orders Google to comply with additional discovery requests.

August 4, 2023. Judge Amit Mehta grants Google's motion to dismiss in part and denies it in part.

September 12, 2023. Trial commences.

August 5, 2024. Judge Amit Mehta rules that Google acted illegally to maintain a monopoly in online search.

Additional Resources

U.S. and Plaintiff States v. Google LLC [2020] - US Department of Justice Antitrust Division

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. GOOGLE LLC (1:20-cv-03010) - CourtListener

STATE OF COLORADO v. GOOGLE LLC (1:20-cv-03715) - CourtListener

Further reading