US: Judge on AT&T, Time Warner merger trial hears document dispute

According to Reuters, AT&T, owner of DirecTV, is asking for documents from a long list of companies as part of preparation for a trial to determine if they will be allowed to buy movie and TV show maker Time Warner. The information comes from ATT lawyer Daniel Petrocelli said in a pre-trial hearing on Friday, January 19.

In November the DOJ sued in November to stop AT&T, the No. 2 US wireless company, from buying Time Warner for US$85 billion because of concerns that it could raise prices for rivals and pay—TV subscribers as well as hamper the development of online video. Trial is set for March 19.

Daniel Petrocelli, who represents AT&T and Time Warner, said that his team had been unable to get data requested from third parties, who had said they no longer had some of it. He asked the government, which did have the data, to return it so it could be subpoenaed.

An attorney for DISH Network Corp at the hearing identified himself to Judge Richard Leon and offered to discuss the dispute but Leon declined.

The third parties included Verizon Communications, Comcast, Cox, DISH, Charter, Disney and Viacom, among others, a source close to the trial said after the hearing.

Full Content: Reuters

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.