Annual Survey of Virginia Law: Antitrust and Trade Regulation

Group boycott and antitrust conspiracy claims met with little success in Virginia this year. Both federal and state courts are increasingly wary of allowing cases to proceed where the essential elements of antitrust claims are not established or where no impact on competition is proven. Moreover, procedural and evidentiary difficulties have plagued antitrust plaintiffs this year. In short, the cases reflect judicial analysis that is both sophisticated and resistant to allowing meritless antitrust claims to get to a jury.