Single Franchise Contract, Ordinance Don't Violate Antitrust Law, Judge Rules

TACOMA, Wash. - A Washington county that passed an ordinance enforcing a single franchise contract between the county and an ambulance company for ambulance services in the county is insulated from antitrust liability by the state action doctrine, a federal judge in Washington ruled Dec. 22 in granting judgment to the county and ambulance company (Metro West Ambulance v. Clark County, Washington, et al., No. C10-5809RJB, W.D. Wash.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 147590). Full story on lexis.com