AT&T said Thursday evening, it’s surprised the Department of Justice is appealing its antitrust challenge to the carrier’s purchase of Time Warner but is ready to defend itself. A district court judge found in favor of the deal last month.
The DOJ offered no details of its appeal, according to Law360.
AT&T General Counsel David McAtee called the June 12 court decision “thorough, fact-based, and well-reasoned,” in a statement. “While the losing party in litigation always has the right to appeal if it wishes, we are surprised that the DOJ has chosen to do so under these circumstances,” he continued. “We are ready to defend the Court’s decision at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.”
When U.S. District Judge Richard Leon rejected the DOJ’s claims that the combination of AT&T and Time Warner would hurt competition and drive up consumer prices, he warned the government should not seek a stay, Inside Towers reported. The parties closed the $85.4 billion deal on June 14.
July 16, 2018
Reader Interactions