Address of Charles F Rule on Criminal Enforcement of the Antitrust Laws: Targeting Naked Cartel Restraints Before the 36th Annual Antitrust Spring Meeting of the American Bar Association held on March 24, 1988

• NCJ Number: 110663
• Author(s): C F Rule
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 27 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Presentation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division reviews the Reagan administration's enforcement record and policy regarding criminal and civil antitrust cases.

Abstract

After noting that criminal antitrust enforcement is at an all time high, Assistant Attorney General Rule counters the charge that his division is only bringing criminal cases against small fry and not prosecuting rampant criminal antitrust violations by large corporations. He also emphasizes the Antitrust Division's intention to prosecute only conduct that is unambiguously anticompetitive and clearly illegal and explains four criteria used in deciding to prosecute. Monopolization, auction pools, and movie splits are also addressed. Rule presents legal and economic reasons for antitrust prosecutors to refrain from attacking classes of commercial conduct that do not amount to naked horizontal cartel restraints. He contends the Antitrust is tougher than ever on true antitrust crime, exercising its power responsibility and indicating only those classes of conspiracies that represent an unambiguous threat to consumers.