Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) request was turned down on Thursday paving the way for the consumers to sue the iPhone maker for as much as $840 million in price-fixing damages. An appeals court has declined the stay order on the lawsuit against Apple, where it was to be tried for the damages in the e-books price fixing. The trial will proceed on July 14 and will not be delayed as requested by Apple.
Hearing in July
On Thursday, it was ruled by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit that Apple disqualified for a stay during appeal for proceedings. This ruling took place in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where the trial of the case is scheduled for determination of damages. The appeals court had entered a temporary stay last month, which has come to an end.
The lawsuits against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) have been bought by the U.S. Department of Justice, 33 states and U.S. territories and a group of consumers claiming class status. According to lawsuit, in 2010 the price rise of ebooks was conspired by Apple and the publishers. In June 2013, a trial on liability was held and before that settlement took place among all the book publishers.
The damages claims against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) by the states and the class are scheduled for hearing in July. Earlier, class certification was granted by Judge Cote to the consumer group.
Apple denying all charges
Apple along with five other publishers, who are the major ones in U.S. has been ruled by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote of the New York court for allegedly raising prices in the ebook market with the intention of countering Amazon.com.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has denied being aware of any kind of conspiracy, and also to the involvement of the publishers in December 2009 and at any other time, as well. A retail business model was offered by Apple to the publishers that was in the company’s independent business interests “and was attractive to the publishers, who were frustrated with Amazon,” it said in a filing in February.
