Judge Assigned to US Antitrust Case Against Amazon Recuses Himself
In a recent development, Senior Judge John Coughenour has recused himself from presiding over the US Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.com. This decision was revealed in a court document filed on Wednesday. The antitrust lawsuit was filed against Amazon in federal court in Seattle just a day before Judge Coughenour’s recusal. The judge, who was appointed by Republican former President Ronald Reagan, did not provide a specific reason for stepping down from the case.
Following Judge Coughenour’s recusal, the case has been re-assigned to US District Judge John Chun through the court’s rotation process. Judge Chun, nominated by President Joe Biden last year, previously served as a judge for the Washington State Court of Appeals.
The FTC’s lawsuit alleges that Amazon has abused its dominant position in the retail market as a major e-commerce player. The company is accused of engaging in unfair practices by favouring its own products over those of third-party sellers and by taking punitive actions against merchants looking to offer products at lower prices on alternative platforms.
It’s worth noting that Amazon faces several smaller private consumer cases related to similar issues, which have been filed in recent years and are currently pending in the same US federal court. These cases are presided over by Judge Ricardo Martinez. The FTC has argued that consolidating its case with these ongoing consumer cases under a single judge would help prevent duplication or conflicts in litigation.
