U.S. v. Allied Van Lines, Inc., et al.

Topics:  Allied Van Lines

Rebecca P. Dick
Department of Justice
February 5, 1998

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 24 (Thursday, February 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5967-5968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2850]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Antitrust Division


U.S. v. Allied Van Lines, Inc., et al.

    Notice is hereby given that defendant Allied Van Lines, Inc. 
(``Allied'') has filed with the United States District Court for the 
Northern District of Illinois a motion to terminate the Judgment in 
United States v. Allied Van Lines, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 44-C-
30, entered by the Court on December 28, 1945 (``the Judgment''). In a 
Stipulation also filed with the Court, the Department of

[[Page 5968]]

Justice (``Department'') has tentatively consented to termination of 
the Judgment, but has reserved the right to withdraw consent pending 
receipt of public comments.
    On January 11, 1944, the Division sued Allied, National Furniture 
Warehouseman's Association (``NFWA''), and several hundred of their 
member carriers in the Northern District of Illinois, alleging 
violations of sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Sherman Act. Specifically, 
the complaint alleged that defendants had committed a number of 
anticompetitive practices with respect to the business of interstate 
common carriage of household goods by motor vehicle for hire: 
conspiracy to monopolize; attempt to monopolize; actual monopolization; 
price fixing; bid rigging; refusals to deal; exclusion of competitors 
from membership in Allied; and expulsion of members who did not follow 
Allied's rules. On December 28, 1945, NFWA, Allied, and 440 of their 
member agents consented to entry of a judgment against them. The 
Judgment, as subsequently modified, has two major provisions remaining 
in effect: forcing NFWA to divest any interest in Allied; and 
prohibiting interlocking directorates by enjoining NFWA from employing 
officers or directors of Allied. NFWA is now known as the National 
Moving and Storage Association (``NMSA'').
    NMSA now plans to merge with the American Movers Conference 
(``AMC''). Allied officers, directors, or employees traditionally 
served as officers or members of the board of AMC. After the merger, 
the new association formed by the merger will be the only major trade 
association for household moving companies. Allied wishes to continue 
to be represented on the board of the new association and therefore 
seeks termination of the judgment in this case.
    The Department and Allied have filed with the Court memoranda that 
set forth the reasons why they believe that termination of the consent 
judgment would serve the public interest. Copies of Allied's 
application to terminate, the Stipulation containing the Government's 
consent, the supporting memoranda, and all additional papers filed with 
the Court in connection with this motion will be available for 
inspection at the Antitrust Documents Group of the Antitrust Division, 
U.S. Department of Justice, Room 215, North Liberty Place Building, 325 
7th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004, and at the Office of the 
Clerk of the United States District Court for the Northern District of 
Illinois, Twentieth Floor, 209 South Dearborn, Chicago, Illinois 60604. 
Copies of these materials may be obtained from the Antitrust Division 
upon request and payment of the duplicating fee determined by 
Department of Justice regulations.
    Interested persons may submit comments regarding the proposed 
termination of the Judgment to the Department. Such comments must be 
received by the Antitrust Division within sixty days and will be filed 
with the Court by the Department. Comments should be addressed to 
Andrew K. Rosa, Trial Attorney, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of 
Justice, 325 Seventh Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20004, 
telephone (202) 307-0886.
Rebecca P. Dick,
Director of Civil Non-Merger Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 98-2850 Filed 2-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-11-M