Blank Rome Wins Dismissal of Mackinac Island’s Antitrust Claims Against Ferry Companies

"Blank Rome won another major court victory for Shepler’s Inc. and Mackinac Island Ferry Company in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, where Judge Robert T. Jonker granted the ferry companies’ motion to dismiss the City of Mackinac Island’s antitrust claims and denied the City’s request to join the Hoffman Family of Companies as a defendant. The court found the City lacked standing and, alternatively, that the claims failed on the merits, noting the ferry market is competitive, fare increases were insufficient to show monopolistic intent, and no anticompetitive conduct was alleged after acquisitions. Blank Rome (with Michigan counsel Dykema) will continue to represent the ferry companies on related contractual matters."