Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, WORTH NOTING—Other Antitrust and Trade Regulation developments, (Apr 8, 2016)

A periodic roundup of other items of interest to the Antitrust and Trade Regulation community:

CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: Ridesharing company Uber has agreed to a $25 million settlement of allegations by the district attorneys of Los Angeles and San Francisco that it had misled the public as to the background checks it conducted on its drivers. Under the stipulated judgment approved by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Mary Wiss, Uber agreed to pay a civil penalty of $10 million to Los Angeles and San Francisco counties within the next 60 days. Uber will have to pay an additional $15 million civil penalty if the company does not comply with the terms of the settlement over the next two years.

ANTITRUST NEWS: The European Commission has released German railway company Deutsche Bahn AG from five-year commitments it made in December 2013 regarding pricing for traction current, the electricity used for powering locomotives. Prior to the commitments, DB Energie, a Deutsche Bahn subsidiary, was the only supplier of traction current in Germany. The Commission is now satisfied that its competition concerns have been addressed by the growth of competition in the German railway power supply market.

ANTITRUST NEWS: New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced the appointment of Manisha M. Sheth as Executive Deputy Attorney General for Economic Justice. Sheth, currently a partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, will oversee five litigation bureaus, including Antitrust, Consumer Frauds, Internet and Technology, Investor Protection, and Real Estate Finance. Her previous litigation practice focused on securities litigation, most notably representing the federal government in its mortgage-backed securities cases against the nation’s largest financial institutions.

CONFERENCES: On June 15, 2016, the FTC will host a one-day data security conference in Chicago to provide guidance for businesses on how to secure their products, services, and networks. This is the fourth “Start with Security” event nationwide. FTC Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen will provide opening remarks. The conference, to be held at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, will focus on guidance for startups and other small and medium-sized businesses about how to make security considerations a part of their companies’ culture.

Companies: Uber Technologies, Inc.; Deutsche Bahn AG

News: Advertising Antitrust Conferences ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews