On August 18, 2009, the District Court for the Western District of Washington dismissed with leave to amend an MDL action against shippers for violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1, based on allegations that the shippers colluded to simultaneously increase fuel surcharges, illegally shared vessel capacity, and conspired not to enter into extra-tariff rate agreements with customers. In re Hawaiian and Guamanian Cabotage Antitrust Litig., No. 08-md-1972 TSZ (“Pacific Shipping MDL”), Order No. 5 (W.D. Wa., Aug. 18, 2009) (“Slip Op.”).

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