Bartlit Beck wins motion to dismiss plaintiffs' damages claims in airline ticket pricing class action
Bartlit Beck represents Sabre, the owner and operator of the largest Global Distribution System ("GDS") in a putative class action alleging violation of the antitrust laws. Plaintiffs allege that Sabre conspired with other GDSs to require certain contract provisions in their contracts with airlines. They allege these provisions restricted competition, which led to the airlines paying the GDSs higher fees, which the airlines passed on to consumers in the form of higher airfares. The putative class consists of all purchasers of airline tickets on the nine major airlines over the last decade. Plaintiffs sought "overcharge" damages for each ticket purchased under various state antitrust and consumer protection laws as well as injunctive relief under federal law. On July 6, 2016 on Sabre's motion, Judge Katherine Polk Failla of the Southern District of New York dismissed all of Plaintiffs' state law claims, thus precluding Plaintiffs from seeking any damages in the case.
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