Oil Companies Win Again as Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of Suit Alleging Price-Fixing Conspiracy

The plaintiffs claimed that Trump, Russia, and Saudi Arabia conspired with major oil companies to cut production, leading to higher gasoline prices. However, a federal appeals court dismissed the antitrust lawsuit, stating that it involved political matters beyond the court’s jurisdiction. The court upheld the lower court’s decision that there was no evidence of an antitrust conspiracy. The plaintiffs’ allegations of collusion were deemed insufficient, with the court suggesting that the reduction in production and subsequent price increases could be attributed to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The appeals court emphasized that foreign diplomacy issues, such as oil production negotiations between the U.S., Russia, and Saudi Arabia, are the responsibility of the political branches of government, not the courts. Both plaintiffs and defendants did not respond to requests for comment on the ruling.

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