Image via Wikipedia |
| www.scubaluv.biz |
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today that it has settled an unfair competition case with Robert S. Kennedy, owner of Scuba Luv, Inc. on Catalina Island.
Kennedy was accused of engaging in anti-competitive business tactics designed to force fellow competitor Ron Moore of Dive Catalina from the diving tours marketplace in Avalon.
Without admitting liability, Robert Kennedy agreed to pay a total of $6,500 in monetary relief, consisting of $1,500 in civil penalties, and $5,000 in legal and investigative costs. The settlement was approved by Judge Robert L. Hess. Co-defendant John W. Mello, then-owner of Catalina Divers Supply, settled last February.
Deputy-in-Charge of the Office’s Antitrust Section, Kathleen Tuttle, who handled the matter, said anti-competitive conduct harms honest businesses and often raises prices for consumers.
“Cases like this serve as a reminder to businesses in general that laws against restraint of trade must be taken seriously and will be vigorously enforced,” she said.
In addition to costs and penalties, the parties agreed to injunctive terms that prohibit Kennedy from engaging directly or indirectly in any conduct involving unlawful competition or restraint of trade in the scuba diving business in violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law. Kennedy and his attorney cooperated with prosecutors.
No comments:
Post a Comment