United States v. Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association of the United States, Inc.

The United States appeals from the denial of its motion to extend by ten years the effect of two provisions of a consent judgment entered by the district court on October 29, 1969. The court initially granted the government’s motion to extend, but reversed itself after hearing the defendants’ motion to reconsider. We reverse and remand for further findings.

I. BACKGROUND

In January 1969, the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department filed a complaint in federal district court naming the Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (now the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association of the United States, Inc.), and its component members, General Motors Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Chrysler Corporation, and American Motors Corporation, as defendants. The complaint charged that the Association, its members, and various co-conspirators not named as defendants had engaged in a combination and conspiracy to restrain competition in the development, manufacture, and installation of motor vehicle air pollution control equipment, in violation of Section One of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1 .

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