Monday, October 22, 2018

Antitrust attorney K. Todd Wallace comments on the latest antitrust investigation of certain universities’ early decision admission program by the U.S. Department of Justice.


Antitrust attorney K. Todd Wallace comments on the latest antitrust investigation of certain universities’ early decision admission program by the U.S. Department of Justice.

This is the second DOJ antitrust investigation in college admission in 2018, showing a focused interest in university admission policies, notes attorney K. Todd Wallace

In April 2018, several universities reported that they received a letter from the U.S Department of Justice, requesting that the universities preserve and maintain certain documents in light of an ongoing investigation. The letter explained that the investigation surrounds potential arrangements that colleges and universities may have pertaining to their early decision admission program and sharing of information between such institutions.  

Specifically, the letter requests that universities and colleges maintain the following information:

  • Formal or informal agreements pertaining to sharing identities of accepted students with other institutions.
  • Communications with individuals at other institutions pertaining to identities of accepted students
  • Internal documents regarding such communication pertaining to identities of accepted students.
  • Documents pertaining to actions or decisions based in whole or part on identities of students accepted at other universities.
  • Admission record of such identified students.

Although some elite institutions use to share financial aid information of applying students amongst them in the past, the practice stopped as a result of an agreement between the Department of Justice and Ivy League institutions in 1991.  The agreement came at the end of a DOJ investigation into the information sharing practice.  Although the agreement only involved Ivy League institutions, other institutions followed suit and stayed away from the practice.  Recent signs, however, signals that certain institutions may be engaging in information sharing again.

Institutions have publicly said that they are fully cooperating with the DOJ.  Some universities have noted important distinctions between the practice in 1991 versus now.  First, information being shared now is part of the early decision admission process, which is entirely voluntary.  Second, students consent to such disclosure in the Common Applications utilized by the institutions.  

Interestingly, this is the second DOJ antitrust investigation into college admission standards in this year alone.  Earlier this year, DOJ launched an investigation into whether the revised National Association for College Admission Counseling ethics code constitutes restraint on trade among the institutions pertaining to recruitment of student athletes.  It remains to be seen as to where these investigations will lead, but suffice to say, DOJ antitrust division seems to be taking an interest in university admission policies.


*** K. Todd Wallace is an attorney at Wallace Meyaski in New Orleans. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the legal and business professions with established excellence in trial advocacy, negotiation, strategic and initiative planning, government relations, mergers and acquisitions, and team building. See http://www.walmey.com/our-attorneys/k-todd-wallace/

Attorney K. Todd Wallace introduces new “Fresh Start” Flexible Billing Plans for all New Firm Clients


Attorney K. Todd Wallace introduces new “Fresh Start” Flexible Billing Plans for all New Firm Clients

The law firm of Wallace Meyaski, LLC wants to assist individuals and companies by offering flexible payment plans and individually-tailored installment payments

“Affording a lawyer can be a difficult and challenging hurdle to overcome for many individuals and small businesses alike. It should not be. As a result, the law firm of Wallace Meyaski, LLC, wants to assist as many individuals and companies as possible, by offering flexible payment plans, individually-tailored installment payments, flat-fee cases, retainers, and even success-based fee options depending on the unique circumstances and needs of each client ...,”said K. Todd Wallace, Attorney at Law.

“That’s the driving force behind our new ‘Fresh-Start’ Payment Plans. As everyone’s legal case is different and requires an individually-tailored strategy, so does a client’s and/or a company’s financial situation and circumstances; and our new payment plans offer our clients exactly that,” adds Mr. Wallace. The amount of the “flat-fee” and/or any hourly billing will vary depending on the case and client. 

However, the law Firm of Wallace Meyaski, LLC aims to be competitive and just with their law services pricing.  “We fully understand that not all clients are going to be able to pay all fees up front, therefore flexible payment arrangements may be made.”  

These will vary depending upon what is agreed to by both parties, whether it is a lump sum and then small payments after that or monthly/weekly arrangements. A retainer fee is a “lump sum” payment charged to commence legal services which retains the lawyer’s services and creates the underlying attorney-client relationship.

Part of the firm’s philosophy, according to Mr. Wallace, is that "the New Orleans community has embraced us as part of legal community in such a short period of time,  therefore, our goal is to give back whenever possible.” “Not everyone will qualify elsewhere but the Wallace Meyaski firm is willing to work with potential clients to make it more affordable to retain a lawyer.”  Although not unique in an of itself, some cases may be handled on a “Success-Basis” or contingency-fee basis.  This essentially means that the potential client is not required to pay any fees to the Law Firm at the outset to commence services.  The law office will determine when this possible payment plan applies. This may be an option for a potential client when specifically agreed upon and authorized by the Firm.

In most cases, Wallace Meyaski does not charge for Initial Consultation, however, in those cases where a Consultation Fee is charged, once retained, the Initial Consultation Fee is thereafter applied and fully credited to the Client’s Case Account.  


About  K. Todd Wallace, Attorney in New Orleans

Mr. Wallace has nearly 20 years of experience in the legal and business professions with established excellence in trial advocacy, negotiation, strategic and initiative planning, employment law compliance, government relations, mergers and acquisitions, and team building. He received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Loyola University College of Law, New Orleans, LA and while at Loyola, he served as the Managing Editor of the Loyola Law Review, and as a member of the William C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Team. Before law school, he received his Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.

Website: http://www.walmey.com/our-attorneys/k-todd-wallace/
Blog: https://ktoddwallaceblog.blogspot.com/
Facebook page of the Law Firm: https://www.facebook.com/WallaceMeyaski/
Facebook page of Kenneth Todd Wallace, Attorney at Law: 
https://www.facebook.com/kennethtodd.wallace.3

K. Todd Wallace, Attorney at Law
Wallace Meyaski Law Firm
(504) 644-2011


*** K. Todd Wallace is an attorney at Wallace Meyaski in New Orleans. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the legal and business professions with established excellence in trial advocacy, negotiation, strategic and initiative planning, government relations, mergers and acquisitions, and team building. See http://www.walmey.com/our-attorneys/k-todd-wallace/

Noted antitrust attorney K. Todd Wallace comments on the latest development in Apple iPhone apps antitrust litigation.



Noted antitrust attorney K. Todd Wallace comments on the latest development in Apple iPhone apps antitrust litigation.


              The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to hear Apple’s appeal of the Ninth Circuit’s decision allowing the litigation to proceed in a case brought against Apple by purchasers of iPhones and iPhone applications (hereinafter “apps”).  In early 2017, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a dismissal by the district court for lack of statutory standing. 
              Plaintiffs in the case are purchasers of iPhones and iPhone apps between 2007 and 2013.  Plaintiffs allege “that Apple has monopolized and attempted to monopolize the market for iPhone apps.”  As familiar to many users, the Ninth Circuit outlined the factual background of the iPhone ecosystem.   “The iPhone is a ‘closed system,’ meaning that Apple controls which apps— such as ringtones, instant messaging, Internet, video, and the like—can run on an iPhone's software. In 2008, Apple launched the ‘App Store,’ an internet site where iPhone users can find, purchase, and download iPhone apps. Apple has developed some of the apps sold in the App Store, but many of the apps sold in the store have been developed by third-party developers.”  Noting that Apple receives a 30% commission from any sale of apps developed by third-party developers, the Ninth Circuit went on to explain that “Apple prohibits app developers from selling iPhone apps through channels other than the App Store, threatening to cut off sales by any developer who violates this prohibition. Apple discourages iPhone owners from downloading unapproved apps, threatening to void iPhone warranties if they do so.”
              Plaintiffs’ complaint went through multiple versions and amendments following complex history of legal procedure at the trial level.  The last amended complaint addressed only Apple’s monopolization of the iPhone app market.  At the trial level, Apple sought and was granted a dismissal based on statutory standing to sue in an antitrust case. 
              “Under § 4 of the Clayton Act, ‘any person who shall be injured in his business or property by reason of anything forbidden in the antitrust laws may sue . . . and shall recover threefold the damages by him sustained[.]’”  U.S. Supreme Court has limited the definition of any person under the act in Illinois Brick Co. v. Illinois, 431 U.S. 720 (1977) to “only ‘the overcharged direct purchaser, and not others in the chain of manufacture or distribution’".  Therefore, the Ninth Circuit framed the issue as “whether Plaintiffs purchased their iPhone apps directly from the app developers, or directly from Apple. Stated otherwise, the question is whether Apple is a manufacturer or producer, or whether it is a distributor. . . . [I]f Apple is a manufacturer or producer from whom Plaintiffs purchased indirectly, Plaintiffs do not have standing. But if Apple is a distributor from whom Plaintiffs purchased directly, Plaintiffs do have standing.”   
              Apple argued that “it does not sell apps but rather sells ‘software distribution services to developers.’ In Apple's view, because it sells distribution services to app developers, it cannot simultaneously be a distributor of apps to app purchasers. Apple analogizes its role to the role of an owner of a shopping mall that ‘leases physical space to various stores.’"  The Ninth Circuit rejected Apple’s argument, noting that “part of the anti-competitive behavior alleged by Plaintiffs is that, far from allowing iPhone app developers to sell through their own ‘stores,’ Apple specifically forbids them to do so, instead requiring them to sell iPhone apps only through Apple's App Store.” 
              The Ninth Circuit explained that the decision is compelled “on the fundamental distinction between a manufacturer or producer, on the one hand, and a distributor, on the other. Apple is a distributor of the iPhone apps, selling them directly to purchasers through its App Store. Because Apple is a distributor, Plaintiffs have standing under Illinois Brick to sue Apple for allegedly monopolizing and attempting to monopolize the sale of iPhone apps.”
              The issue reached by the Ninth Circuit obviously has potential for far reaching effect in the digital age.  Many tech companies, such as Google, will likely be watching the Supreme Court case closely as the Court shapes the antitrust exposure of not only Apple but many others who follow such a business model.   The Ninth Circuit case is In re Apple iPhone Antitrust Litigation, 846 F.3d 313 (2017), available at https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=13642149723808458466&q=in+re+apple+iphone+antitrust&hl=en&as_sdt=3,47
 

*** K. Todd Wallace is an attorney at Wallace Meyaski in New Orleans. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the legal and business professions with established excellence in trial advocacy, negotiation, strategic and initiative planning, government relations, mergers and acquisitions, and team building. See http://www.walmey.com/our-attorneys/k-todd-wallace/