Sherman Act Claims in Federal Court

<h2>Sherman Act Overview</h2><p>The Sherman Antitrust Act is the foundational federal antitrust statute. Section 1 prohibits "[e]very contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade." Section 2 makes it unlawful to "monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce."</p><h2>Section 1 Analysis</h2><ul><li><strong>Per se violations:</strong> Price-fixing, bid rigging, and market allocation are automatically illegal</li><li><strong>Rule of reason:</strong> Other restraints are evaluated by weighing pro-competitive and anti-competitive effects</li><li><strong>Quick look:</strong> Intermediate standard for restraints that appear anticompetitive on their face</li></ul>