Great Lakes Wire

The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey has denied Apple's motion to dismiss a civil antitrust lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and attorneys general from 15 other states. Filed in March 2024, the lawsuit accuses Apple of maintaining an illegal monopoly over smartphones by imposing selective contractual restrictions and withholding critical access points from developers.

In its decision issued on June 30, the court allowed the case to move forward. It reaffirmed that state attorneys general have standing to sue companies whose actions harm their residents, independent of federal government involvement. The court also found that the allegations support claims that Apple engaged in anticompetitive behavior with intent and a substantial likelihood of monopolizing the market.

Attorney General Nessel expressed satisfaction with the court's decision: “Mega corporations cannot be allowed to dictate the rules of the digital marketplace at the expense of their customers,” she said. “I am pleased the Court has allowed this case to proceed, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to protect customers and promote fair competition.”

The lawsuit includes participation from attorneys general in Arizona, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin.