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August 12, 2010 in Region
Attorney general sues makers of LCD panels over prices
SEATTLE — Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna says he’s suing the makers of Samsung, Toshiba, Sharp and five other brands of liquid crystal display screens.
McKenna says they engaged in price-fixing.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in King County Superior Court following a yearlong investigation by Washington and other states. It alleges that company leaders regularly met in secret to agree on prices and limit production from 1998 to 2006, and it seeks restitution for state agencies and consumers as well as civil penalties.
Several of the companies and their executives have already pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges.
The defendants in Washington’s case include Epson Electronics America Inc., Hitachi Displays Ltd., LG Display America Inc., Toshiba Corp. and Samsung Electronics Company Ltd.
© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Children permitted at Washington prison powwows 
lewis8457 on August 12 at 8:17 a.m.
Isn’t everything price fixed? A TV at best buy cost the same as it does at wal-mart or target. meaning it really doesn’t matter were you buy certain items. The price is the same by a few dollars no matter where you go.
Isn’t gasoline price fixed? There is only a 3 cent difference between one station to another. Isn’t that price fixing?
terrymr on August 12 at 9:24 a.m.
They happily allow manufacturers to set Minimum Advertised Prices for products … but then accuse them of price fixing when they all set the same price ?
Orange on August 12 at 9:32 a.m.
Look up the laws around price fixing. Then maybe you’ll understand the charges.
soccermomsusie on August 12 at 9:45 a.m.
As someone who is living on a fixed income, I am glad that manufacturers are fixing prices.
I thought McKenna was a Republican. Why is he picking a fight with corporations? We need a Tea Party person in this position!
HEAR OUR VOICE!
IHike4Fun on August 12 at 9:55 a.m.
Glad prices are being fixed??? Ho boy.
But who ever pays retail price for something like this? Doesn’t anyone except my wife and I negotiate the price any more?
Dazzeetrader11 on August 12 at 10:03 a.m.
He’s a Republican with a very erratic record. Susie…although the media has generated a picture of Repubs as a miserly profit at any cost outfit, it’s not that way.
McKenna also has taken on the Housing Industry which, if you believe the media, is in the pocket of the Repubs. Last year he levied HUGE fines against them and the Rossi campaign. Charges with Rossi were frivolous but the Builders assoication changes let to hundreds of thousands in fines.
He the type of AG who, while conservative, is a right of center Republican. Seems like a good guy and a throwback to the fiscal conservative, legal conservative type era. “When it’s wrong, it’s just plain wrong” he told me last year at a breakfast.
He’s a bit enthusiastic in application of the law with fines and all, but he’s very much the “sheriff”. He might be a good governor.
Charris on August 12 at 10:18 a.m.
What Does Price Fixing Mean?
Establishing the price of a product or service, rather than allowing it to be determined naturally through free market forces. This procedure is often an illegal practice.
Nahzuul on August 12 at 11:16 a.m.
Noticing that prices are the same at different stores is not evidence of price fixing, as long as those prices were determined by supply and demand. A group of industry representatives from different suppliers getting together and coming up with an agreed price among them, that is price-fixing by collusion and it is illegal.
Some of you don’t seem to be good shoppers. I can almost always find different prices for the same product, offered by different suppliers, if I search hard enough. :)
mikeln on August 12 at 11:59 a.m.
Health insurance is a good example of price fixing. The Federal Government, in 1963, exempted these crooks from those types of laws. It was this kind of special treatment that has led to the high cost of healthcare today and untold riches for these crimminals.
mdriftmeyer on August 12 at 1:27 p.m.
What a useless AG. He wants to sue them? They were already sued and fined nearly a Billion for collusion.
Where the hell was McKenna during that multi-year class action lawsuit?
No where.