A federal judge has set a fast-paced schedule for the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against Google’s digital advertising technology practices. The trial is to be moved along more quickly than either side had proposed, with the date when Google and Justice Department lawyers must disclose factual evidence and expert reports being set for January 18, 2024. The faster pace of litigation could put additional pressure on both sides, particularly on Google, which argued that it needed more time because, unlike the Justice Department, it did not have the benefit of an investigation “with the federal government’s subpoena power.” The Eastern District of Virginia, where the case will be heard, is known for its fast pace of proceedings. The case was filed in January by the Justice Department and eight states, seeking to force Google to sell its ad manager suite, claiming that the company unlawfully curbed competition over advertising technology.
US Justice Dept’s Google Advertising Case Gets Fast-Paced Schedule
The US Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit challenging Google’s digital advertising technology practices has been given an expedited schedule by a federal judge. The case will be moving along more quickly than either side had proposed. The date when Google and Justice Department lawyers must disclose factual evidence and experts reports is set for January 18, 2024. Both sides had requested at least five more months to prepare for trial.
Google argued that it needed more time because it did not have the benefit of an investigation “with the federal government’s subpoena power,” which the Justice Department had. The company also claimed that the case “presents complex and extremely consequential issues, the resolution of which will affect businesses across the United States.”
The faster pace of the litigation could put additional pressure on both sides, but particularly on Google, which called the proceedings “imbalanced.” The Eastern District of Virginia, where the case will be heard, is known for its fast pace of proceedings and is colloquially called a “rocket docket.”
The case, filed in January by the Justice Department and eight states, aims to force Google to sell its ad manager suite, alleging that the company unlawfully curbed competition over advertising technology. This is one of two antitrust actions against Google; the other was filed in October 2020, challenging Google’s search business, and is set for trial in Washington, D.C., federal court in September.
Neither the Justice Department nor Google had any comment on Friday. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema will preside at the January pretrial conference.
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