Utah joins Live Nation challenge
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Utah is joining a bipartisan coalition of states rejecting a $280 million settlement reached with the Justice Department in the antitrust case against Live Nation.
Why it matters: The outcome of the legal battle could determine whether ticket buyers see relief at checkout from ballooning prices and fees.
Driving the news: More than two dozen state attorneys general, including Utah AG Derek Brown, filed a motion Monday for a mistrial in the federal antitrust lawsuit that sought to break up Live Nation/Ticketmaster.
- The AGs are looking to continue their lawsuit after the settlement.
Zoom in: Most states backing the mistrial are Democrat, but Utah is among a handful of red states, including Kansas, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wyoming.
What they're saying: The settlement quickly drew outrage from consumer groups and activists, who argue the Trump administration let the company off the hook.
- A spokesperson for Brown did not immediately return Axios' request for comment.
The big picture: States are playing a greater role in trying to block deals and break up companies amid what they perceive as a regulatory pullback from the Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission.
Between the lines: While some AGs may be politically motivated to sue to block a deal, they would need to present a compelling antitrust argument for a lawsuit to hold up in court.
- Each state has different antitrust laws that they can point to when determining whether a deal or company is anti-competitive.