,i  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #bghb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,april #bj1 #bjbc,ms4 
,port] 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,nadl]1 ,mr4     
,cicill9e1 & ,ms4 ,jayapal7 introduc$ ! 
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ! ,judici>y  ,a ,,bill    
,to specify ! /&>ds gov]n+ claims (     
consci\sly p>allel pric+ coord9ation 9  
civil actions "u ! ,%]man ,act1 & to    
cl>ify ! mean+ ( contract1 comb9ation 9 
! =m ( tru/ or o!rwise1 or conspiracy "u
 ! ,%]man ,act4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is   
,act may be cit$ z ! ,competitive       
,prices ,act4  #b4 ,purpose ,! purpose (
 ?is ,act is to cl>ify & am5d ! law )   
respect to-- 7#a7 ! illegality (        
consci\sly p>allel pric+ coord9ation "u 
sections #a & #c7;a7 ( ! ,%]man ,act    
7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #a1 #c7;a772 &  7#b7 !   
conc]t$-action requirem5t = claim$      
violations ( section #a or #c7;a7 ( !   
,%]man ,act4  #c4 ,f9d+s  7a7           
,consci\sly p>allel pric+ coord9ation   
7#a7 ,! ,am]ican economy is built on !  

f\ndations ( op5 m>kets & fair          
competition4 ,^! core pr9ciples (       
economic fre$om are :at /imulate        
innovation1 improve ! quality ( products
 & s]vices1 & ensure t prices are       
competitive4  7#b7 ,! antitru/ laws are 
design$ to ensure ,am]ican consum]s &   
bus9esses are af=d$ ! b5efits (         
competition ?r\gh\t ! economy4 ,!       
supreme evil ( antitru/ law is1         
accord+ly1 collusion among m>ket rivals4
 ,su* collusion und]m9es competitive    
m>kets1 /ifles innovation1 & results 9  
degrad$ quality & prices t are dictat$  
by competitors' agreem5t r ?an          
competitors' rivalry4  7#c7 ,sections #a
 & #c7;a7 ( ! ,%]man ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4
 #a1 #c7;a77 categorically prohibit--z !
 mo/ p]nici\s types ( contracts1        
comb9ations 9 ! =m ( tru/ or o!rwise1 or
 conspiracies1 9 re/ra9t ( trade or     
comm]ce--nak$ agreem5ts among actual or 
pot5tial competitors to fix prices1 rig 
bids1 or allocate m>kets4 ,an agreem5t  
to fix ! quantity ( products or s]vices 

b\ght or sold is a =m ( agreem5t to fix 
prices4 ,^! agreem5ts are p] se         
unlawful4  7#d7 ,c\rts h be5 unduly     
ho/ile to claims ( price fix+ t are bas$
 on tacit agreem5t among competitors4   
,!y h1 at times1 decl9$ to recognize    
tacit agreem5t z a contract1 comb9ation 
9 ! =m ( tru/ or o!rwise1 or conspiracy2
 !y h held t allegations or evid5ce1    
tak5 z a :ole1 t are z consi/5t )       
consci\s p>allelism z ) agreem5t are    
g5]ally insuffici5t to survive a motion 
to dismiss or motion = summ>y judgm5t2 &
 !y h conclud$ a claimant mu/ (f]       
allegations or evid5ce t5d+ to exclude !
 possibility ( indep5d5t action4 ,see1  
e4g41 ,brooke ,grp4 ,ltd4 v4 ,br[n      
,williamson ,tobacco ,corp41 #eji ,u4,s4
 #bji1 #bbg 7#aiic72 ,matsu%ita ,elec4  
,indus4 ,co4 v4 ,z5i? ,radio ,corp41    
#dge ,u4,s4 #egd1 #ehh 7#aihf72         
,monsanto ,co4 v4 ,spray-,rite ,s]v4    
,corp41 #dfe ,u4,s4 #geb1 #gfd 7#aihd74 
7#e7 ,section #d ( ?is ,act rejects !   
judicial decisions t h prev5t$ m]itori\s

 price-fix+ cases f advanc+ to trial &  
judgm5t4 ,x does s by provid+ t1 9 civil
 actions1 consci\sly p>allel pric+      
coord9ation--z def9$ by ?is ,act--is a  
contract1 comb9ation 9 ! =m ( tru/ or   
o!rwise1 or conspiracy1 9 re/ra9t (     
trade or comm]ce "u sections #a & #c7;a7
 ( ! ,%]man ,act4  7#f7 ,section #d (   
?is ,act does n sup]s$e ! law gov]n+    
price fix+4 ,x in/ead supplem5ts &      
complem5ts t law4 ,x does n apply to    
crim9al prosecutions4  7b7 ,conc]t$     
action  7#a7 ,! words contract1         
comb9ation 9 ! =m ( tru/ or o!rwise1 or 
conspiracy 9 sections #a & #c7;a7 ( !   
,%]man ,act require "s =m ( agreem5t    
betwe5 two or m p]sons1 b t agreem5t ne$
 n be expressly made4 ,a tacit agreem5t 
also qualifies4 ,accord+ly1 ! words     
contract1 comb9ation 9 ! =m ( tru/ or   
o!rwise1 or conspiracy encompass bo?    
express & tacit agreem5ts4  7#b7 ,al?\gh
 consci\sly p>allel behavior alone does 
n con/itute a contract1 comb9ation 9 !  
=m ( tru/ or o!rwise1 or conspiracy "u  

sections #a & #c7;a7 ( ! ,%]man ,act1   
consci\sly p>allel behavior c be evid5ce
 ( an agreem5t4 ,& once ! consci\sly    
p>allel behavior crosses ! l9e into     
consci\sly p>allel coord9ation1 !       
behavior qualifies z tacit agreem5t--t  
is1 a contract1 comb9ation 9 ! =m ( tru/
 or o!rwise1 or conspiracy4  7#c7 ,9    
,bell ,atlantic ,corp4 v4 ,twombly1 #eej
 ,u4,s4 #edd1 #edh-di1 #eec-eg1 #efd-gj 
7#bjjg71 ! ,supreme ,c\rt held t a      
compla9t alleg+ t competitors engag$ 9  
p>allel1 anticompetitive conduct did n d
 en\gh to exclude ! possibility t !     
competitors engag$ 9 indep5d5t action & 
!re=e fail$ to plausibly plead ! exi/5ce
 ( a conspiracy "u section #a ( ! ,%]man
 ,act4 ,9 s hold+1 ! ,c\rt und]/at$ !   
significance ( consci\sly p>allel       
behavior z evid5ce ( agreem5t & left    
little or no room = tacit agreem5ts 9 ! 
mean+ ( contract1 comb9ation 9 ! =m (   
tru/ or o!rwise1 or conspiracy4  7#d7   
,section #e ( ?is ,act rejects !        
,twombly ,c\rt's cramp$ read+ ( ! ,%]man

 ,act's language1 cl>ifies t ! words    
contract1 comb9ation 9 ! =m ( tru/ or   
o!rwise1 or conspiracy encompass tacit  
agreem5ts1 & specifies ! /&>ds = plead+ 
& prov+ a contract1 comb9ation 9 ! =m ( 
tru/ or o!rwise1 or conspiracy "u       
sections #a & #c7;a7 ( ! ,%]man ,act4   
#d4 ,consci\sly p>allel pric+           
coord9ation  7a7 ,def9itions  7#a7 ,!   
t]m consci\sly p>allel pric+ coord9ation
 means a tacit agreem5t among two or m  
p]sons to raise1 l[]1 *ange1 ma9ta91 or 
manipulate pric+ = ! pur*ase or sale (  
reasonably int]*angeable products or    
s]vices4  7#b7 ,! t]m p]son has ! mean+ 
giv5 ! t]m 9 subsection 7a7 ( ! fir/    
section ( ! ,clayton ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4
 #ab7;a774  7b7 ,consci\sly p>allel     
pric+ coord9ation ,9 a civil action1    
includ+ an action br\ght by ! ,unit$    
,/ates or by a ,/ate attorney g5]al1 or 
by ! ,f$]al ,trade ,commission "u       
section #e ( ! ,f$]al ,trade ,commission
 ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #de71 consci\sly   
p>allel pric+ coord9ation is a contract1

 comb9ation 9 ! =m ( tru/ or o!rwise1 or
 conspiracy1 9 re/ra9t ( trade or       
comm]ce "u sections #a & #c7;a7 ( !     
,%]man ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #a1 #c7;a774 
7c7 ,prima facie case  7#a7 ,a claimant 
e/abli%es a prima facie case (          
consci\sly p>allel pric+ coord9ation by 
demon/rat+ t two or m p]sons-- 7,a7     
engag$ 9 sub/antially simil> action1 )9 
a sub/antially simil> "t p]iod1 )       
respect to pric+ = reasonably           
int]*angeable products or s]vices2 &    
7,b7 _h a sub/antially simil> motivation
 to coord9ate _! ef=ts to raise1 l[]1   
*ange1 ma9ta91 or manipulate pric+ = !  
pur*ase or sale ( reasonably            
int]*angeable products or s]vices4  7#b7
 ,a claimant ass]t+ a claim ( consci\sly
 p>allel pric+ coord9ation 9 violation (
 section #a or #c7;a7 ( ! ,%]man ,act   
be>s ! burd5 ( prov+ ! prima facie case 
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 by a           
prepond]ance ( evid5ce1 at :i* po9t !   
burd5 ( production %ifts to ! def5d+    
p>ty z set =? 9 subsection 7d74  7d7    

,burd5 ( rebutt+ prima facie case ,!    
def5d+ p>ty be>s ! burd5 ( rebutt+ a    
prima facie case ( consci\sly p>allel   
pric+ coord9ation by produc+ evid5ce1   
suffici5t to raise a g5u9e dispute (    
mat]ial fact1 t ! def5d+ p>ty's action  
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,a7 (         
subsection 7c7 0 motivat$ by bus9ess    
judgm5t t is economically rational 9 !  
abs5ce ( any consci\sly p>allel pric+   
coord9ation4 ,evid5ce ( ?is nature may  
include1 b is n limit$ to1 evid5ce t !  
def5d+ p>ty act$ rationally 9 response  
to or 9 anticipation ( *ang+ conditions 
affect+ ! m>ket = or ! m>ketability ( ! 
products or s]vices conc]n$4  7e7       
,ultimate burd5 ,if ! def5d+ p>ty rebuts
 ! prima facie case1 ! burd5 %ifts back 
to ! claimant to prove1 by a            
prepond]ance ( ! evid5ce1 t ! def5d+    
p>ty ent]$ a tacit agreem5t among two or
 m p]sons to raise1 l[]1 *ange1 ma9ta91 
or manipulate pric+ = ! pur*ase or sale 
( reasonably int]*angeable products or  
s]vices4 ,! claimant may d s by means t 

include1 b are n limit$ to1 prov+ t--   
7#a7 ! bus9ess judgm5t describ$ 9       
subsection 7d7 0 n-- 7,a7 economically  
rational 9 ! abs5ce ( consci\sly p>allel
 pric+ coord9ation2 or  7,b7 ! pr$om9ant
 motivat+ factor = ! def5d+ p>ty's      
action describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,a7 (  
subsection 7c72  7#b7 ! def5d+ p>ty1    
kn[+ t coord9at$ action to raise1 l[]1  
*ange1 ma9ta91 or manipulate pric+ = !  
pur*ase or sale ( reasonably            
int]*angeable products or s]vices 0     
contemplat$ & invit$ by a competitor1   
adh]$ to ! s*eme & p>ticipat$ 9 x2 or   
7#c7 bas$ on circum/antial evid5ce      
imply+ a traditional conspiracy1 x is m 
likely ?an n t ! def5d+ p>ty ent]$ an   
agreem5t among two or m p]sons to raise1
 l[]1 *ange1 ma9ta91 or manipulate pric+
 = ! pur*ase or sale ( reasonably       
int]*angeable products or s]vices4  7f7 
,affirmative def5se ,x is an affirmative
 def5se to a claim ( consci\sly p>allel 
pric+ coord9ation1 on :i* ! def5d+ p>ty 
be>s ! burd5 ( pro( by a prepond]ance ( 

! evid5ce1 t any affirmative def5se to  
price fix+ applies4  #e4 ,cl>ify+ !     
mean+ ( contract1 comb9ation 9 ! =m (   
tru/ or o!rwise1 or conspiracy  7a7     
,mean+ ( contract1 comb9ation 9 ! =m (  
tru/ or o!rwise1 or conspiracy ,a tacit 
agreem5t is a =m ( contract1 comb9ation 
9 ! =m ( tru/ or o!rwise1 or conspiracy 
"u sections #a & #c7;a7 ( ! ,%]man ,act 
7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #a1 #c7;a774  7b7 ,/&>ds 
( plead+ & pro( ,9 a civil action1      
includ+ an action br\ght by ! ,unit$    
,/ates or by a ,/ate attorney g5]al1 or 
by ! ,f$]al ,trade ,commission "u       
section #e ( ! ,f$]al ,trade ,commission
 ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #de7-- 7#a7 a      
compla9t-- 7,a7 plausibly pleads a      
contract1 comb9ation 9 ! =m ( tru/ or   
o!rwise1 or conspiracy "u sections #a & 
#c7;a7 ( ! ,%]man ,act if ! compla9t    
conta9s factual allegations1 :i* may    
consi/ ( allegations ( consci\sly       
p>allel conduct1 demon/rat+ t ! exi/5ce 
( ! alleg$ contract1 comb9ation 9 ! =m (
 tru/ or o!rwise1 or conspiracy is among

 ! realm ( plausible possibilities2 &   
7,b7 ne$ n allege facts t5d+ to exclude 
! possibility ( indep5d5t action to     
plausibly plead ! exi/5ce ( a contract1 
comb9ation 9 ! =m ( tru/ or o!rwise1 or 
conspiracy "u sections #a & #c7;a7 ( !  
,%]man ,act2 &  7#b7 a claimant-- 7,a7  
demon/rates a g5u9e dispute ( mat]ial   
fact t a def5d+ p>ty ent]$ a contract1  
comb9ation 9 ! =m ( tru/ or o!rwise1 or 
conspiracy "u sections #a & #c7;a7 ( !  
,%]man ,act by (f]+ evid5ce1 :i* may be 
direct or circum/antial1 t is suffici5t 
to all[ a tri] ( fact to reasonably     
conclude t ! def5d+ p>ty ent]$ !        
contract1 comb9ation 9 ! =m ( tru/ or   
o!rwise1 or conspiracy2 &  7,b7 ne$ n   
(f] evid5ce t5d+ to exclude !           
possibility ( indep5d5t action to       
demon/rate a g5u9e dispute ( mat]ial    
fact t a def5d+ p>ty ent]$ a contract1  
comb9ation 9 ! =m ( tru/ or o!rwise1 or 
conspiracy "u sections #a & #c7;a7 ( !  
,%]man ,act2 al?\gh1 at trial1 ! tri] ( 
fact may consid] ! exi/5ce or abs5ce (  

evid5ce t5d+ to exclude ! possibility ( 
indep5d5t action :5 det]m9+ :e!r a      
def5d+ p>ty ent]$ ! contract1 comb9ation
 9 ! =m ( tru/ or o!rwise1 or           
conspiracy4