2009 Annual Review - Latham & Watkins

Ford Motor CompanyAn Antitrust VictoryIn a closely watched and long-running antitrust conspiracy case inwhich plaintiffs sought US $1.1 billion in damages before trebling,Latham & Watkins attorneys won summary judgment for FordMotor Company and its Canadian subsidiary. Plaintiffs, a putativenational class of all consumers who purchased motor vehicles from2001 to 2003, alleged that the major automobile manufacturersconspired to prevent the importation of discount vehicles fromCanada into the United States.After Latham succeeded in securing the dismissal of the nationalconsumer class action under US Supreme Court precedent,plaintiffs refiled their claims under the antitrust and consumerprotection laws of all 50 states. Latham & Watkins secureddismissal of claims under 30 of those state laws, and successfullyobtained summary judgment on the remaining 20 state classes,on the ground that plaintiffs’ economic evidence failed to showthat consumer prices would have been lower if defendants hadnot prohibited imports. This brought a successful conclusion to afederal litigation that began in 2003.PracticeAntitrust & CompetitionOffice InvolvedUnited StatesWashington, D.C.9 Latham & Watkins • 2009 Annual Review