Weyerhaeuser Company is confident an appeal against the decision to award almost US$28m in damages to a company that accused it of monopolising the finished alder lumber market will be successful.
A jury in Portland, Oregon awarded Morelock Enterprises Inc almost US$27.98m after it issued a class-action lawsuit against Weyerhaeuser claiming it had been overpaying for and controlling the supply of alder logs, which is used in the production of furniture and speciality products. Under federal antitrust law, the award will be trebled.
However, Weyerhaeuser said an almost identical case was thrown out by the US Supreme Court last year and that it was hopeful of a similar verdict.
“We fully expect that the Court of Appeal will apply that precedent,” said senior vice president Sandy McDade.
“Our business conduct has been and remains within the spirit and letter of the law, and we will continue to vigorously defend this case.”
