Johnson & Johnson intent in contact lens settlement challenged by AAI and consumer groups in amicus brief seeking clarification by federal court in Florida
The American Antitrust Institute, the Consumer Federation of America, the National Consumers League, and The Consumer Alliance on July 19 filed a motion for leave to participate as amici curiae in the settlement phase of the Disposable Contact Lens Antitrust Litigation. The group’s amicus brief alerts the Court to specific language in the proposed Settlement Agreement that Johnson & Johnson is miscronstruing in a manner inimical to consumers. Such conduct in the absence of further clarification by the Court would defeat the very purpose of the class action lawsuit, which was to promote and preserve competition in the contact lens market in order to protect literally millions of consumers throughout the nation.
A fairness hearing has been scheduled for September 7, 2001. Consumers who wish to comment on the proposed Settlement may write to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division, regarding MDL Docket No. 1030, “In Re Disposable Contact Lens Antitrust Litigation.”
The amicus brief can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat format here.
