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Committee discusses joining multijurisdictional antitrust suits against oil producers; no decision
Summary
Committee discussed a staff recommendation to appoint outside counsel (Berger Montague) to join antitrust litigation alleging a conspiracy by oil producers to reduce crude supply and overcharge buyers; staff said representation is contingency-based and other large cities have joined; the committee did not make a final decision.
Committee members discussed a resolution to authorize retention of counsel to join a multi-jurisdictional antitrust case against large oil producers. Staff explained the engagement would be contingency-based and said other cities (Baltimore, San Francisco, New York and others) have joined similar suits. "It's a contingency case, so we wouldn't pay any expenses and that would be taken out of the settlement if we won," staff said.
Some council members expressed skepticism about nationwide cities involved and questioned the legitimacy of the claims; others said if fraud were committed the city has a fiduciary duty to taxpayers to investigate potential overcharges. Staff said the firm had been recommended via the International Municipal Lawyers Association and that it was typical for cities to join such consolidated cases. The committee did not vote to join at the Sept. 2 meeting and left the matter for later consideration.
