A labor union, and several contractors who use the union’s labor, were accused of conspiring to foreclose competition and monopolize particular job types in commercial projects in a large American city.
A labor union, and several contractors who use the union’s labor, were accused of conspiring to foreclose competition and monopolize particular job types in commercial projects in a large American city. Jointly retained by the contractor defendants, Cornerstone Research worked with two labor economists to analyze issues of liability and damages. The experts’ reports established that the facts cited by the plaintiffs as support for their allegations of conspiracy were not proof of conspiracy. To the contrary, these facts were consistent with a widely accepted understanding of the competitive structure and operation of construction and construction labor markets, both generally and in the particular city at issue. The court granted the defendants summary judgment.