Google Fights Back: Emergency Motion Filed in Antitrust Lawsuit

Google is embroiled in a legal battle of epic proportions as the search giant lodges an emergency request to block a Texas antitrust lawsuit that accuses them of manipulating their dominant position in the online search and advertising sectors.

As Reuters reported, the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) granted the state of Texas’ request to return the case to a federal court in Texas in June 2023, but a rapid legal counteroffensive by Google saw the tech giant issue an emergency motion with the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on August 2.

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Google contends that the antitrust lawsuit’s proceedings should remain situated within the federal court of California, a contention backed up by Texas law which exempts cases prior to the introduction of the measure which gave state attorneys general the right to choose where an antitrust lawsuit will be litigated. This pending decision from the Second Circuit is of utmost significance, as it has the potential to significantly shape the course of the ongoing antitrust lawsuit.

This major legal disagreement is just one of a slew of legal challenges Google is facing in recent years. The company is also concurrently grappling with antitrust investigations initiated by the US Department of Justice and the European Commission, the outcome of which could prove highly meaningful for Google’s business operations moving forward.

As the proceedings continue, Google remains steadfast in its insistence that the lawsuit’s relocation be blocked. “Google contends that the lawsuit’s proceedings should remain situated within the federal court of California,” states N/A, N/A. We can only wait and see what the verdict from the Second Circuit will bring.

Source: Reuters