To All: Here is another flavor although it all looks the same:
Ohio suit alleges Microsoft overcharged consumers
(Recasts, updates with state suit filed)
CINCINNATI, Nov 23 (Reuters) - A pair of lawsuits filed in Ohio on Tuesday charged Microsoft Corp. with overcharging customers, the latest in a flurry of suits filed on the heels of a judge's ruling that the software giant abuses its monopoly power.
Stanley Chesley, a prominent attorney who has previously led legal battles against cigarette makers, breast implant manufacturers and other large industries, filed the class-action suits in U.S. District Court in Columbus and in state court in Cincinnati.
He said the federal court case may be consolidated with similar federal suits filed against Microsoft recently in Alabama and Louisiana on behalf of computer consumers.
Another class-action suit filed in San Francisco Superior Court on Monday against the world's leading software maker sought to recover damages on behalf of private clients.
Those suits and others filed in state courts have emerged since the landmark Nov. 5 finding of fact by a Washington federal court judge that Microsoft abused its monopoly position, hurting consumers, competitors and other companies.
"We have estimates that consumers have been collectively overcharged $10 billion" by Microsoft, Chesley said in a telephone interview.
A victory in the federal court suit filed in Columbus, Ohio, could result in an award that is triple the $10 billion cost figure, Chesley said.
The suit filed in state court could result in a damage award double the alleged overcharged amount.
The suits may also tack on additional defendants such as computer makers because their licensing agreements with Microsoft might have led to customers being overcharged or forced them to use Microsoft's Internet browser, Chesley said.
Additional plaintiffs could be added to the state suit, including "indirect purchasers" of Microsoft products such as personal computer buyers.
Microsoft has admitted no wrongdoing in the U.S. District Court case in Washington brought by the Justice Department and several states.
Presiding Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson last week offered the parties a mediation led by Judge Richard Posner, who heads the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago. |
