How are the antitrust laws enforced?
A.: The antitrust laws are enforced through: 1) criminal and civil enforcement actions brought by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice; 2) civil enforcement actions brought by the Federal Trade Commission; 3) criminal and civil enforcement actions brought by the states’ attorney generals, including the Attorney General of Ohio; and 4) lawsuits brought by private parties. A number of tools are used in investigating and prosecuting criminal antitrust violations. U.S. Department of Justice attorneys often work with FBI agents to obtain evidence. In recent years, the government has started to use court-authorized searches of business, as well as consensual taping of telephone calls, and informants equipped with secret listening devices. The antitrust laws also allow private citizens and business injured by an antitrust violation to sue in court for three times their actual damages plus court costs and attorneys’ fees. States’ attorney generals also bring civil suits on
