Frank & Associates, P.C., lawyers in Bethesda, MD, Maryland

Monopolization Under the Sherman Act

Section 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C.S. § 2, prohibits monopolies and attempts or conspiracies to monopolize. The statute provides for prison terms and fines in actions brought by the U.S. Department Justice and for injunctions and damages in civil actions brought by the Department of Justice, states, and private parties. More...

Protection for Federal Water Pollution Control Act Whistleblowers

Protection for Federal Water Pollution Control Act Whistleblowers More...

Interlocking Directorates

Section 8 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C.S. § 19, prohibits corporations from having the same directors or officers in some instances. Thus, under Section 8, a person may not serve as an officer or director of two non-bank corporations if one of the companies has more than $10 million (adjusted for annual GDP changes) in capital, surplus, and undivided profits and the companies compete so that an agreement between them would eliminate that competition and result in a violation of an antitrust law. An example of a violation of an antitrust law which Section 8 of the Clayton Act is designed to prevent is an agreement between two or more competitors on the prices they charge, which would be a per se illegal agreement under Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C.S. § 1.More...

Federal Trade Commission Competition and Consumer Protection Authority

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is given broad authority in the areas of competition and consumer protection law by Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C.S. § 45. Section 5 declares unlawful any "[u]nfair methods of competition in or affecting commerce, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce," and Section 5 gives the Commission authority to prevent use of unfair methods of competition and deceptive acts or practices.More...

Corporate Criminal Penalties

Organizations may be held liable for criminal conduct just as individuals may be convicted of criminal conduct. The Organizational Sentencing Guidelines of the United States Sentencing Commission (Guidelines) apply to all federal felony and Class A misdemeanor offenses. Under the Guidelines, an organization can be fined, sentenced to probation for up to five years, subjected to statutory forfeiture, ordered to make restitution, and issue public apologies to victims. The term "organization" refers to "a person other than an individual." This includes publicly and privately held corporations, partnerships, associations, joint-stock companies, labor unions, trusts, pension funds, unincorporated organizations, non-profit entities, governments, and political subdivisions of governments. According to the Deputy Counsel for the United States Sentencing Commission, the most common criminal offense committed by an organization is fraud. Other common offenses include environmental pollution, money laundering, and food and drug violations. The Guidelines have two basic purposes: just punishment and deterrence. More...