Mehri & Skalet represents a consumer direct purchaser in an action against the major world manufacturers of chocolate, including Hershey, Mars, Nestle and Cadbury. Plaintiff alleges that defendants engaged in a conspiracy to fix prices for chocolate in the worldwide market. In the face of falling prices, defendants introduced a series of coordinated price increases, through secret meetings, and through their memberships in various industry groups. Recent news reports reveal that one defendant, Cadbury, has applied for “amnesty” with the United States Department of Justice, meaning that it may be offering information about the conspiracy to federal authorities in exchange for favorable treatment. M&S filed its complaint in January 2008, and the case is in its early stages. |
