Google has made a preemptive payment to the US government in order to avoid a jury trial in the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit regarding its digital advertising business. The exact amount of the payment has not been disclosed, but Google hopes that this action will eliminate the need for a trial by jury and instead allow the case to be decided by a judge. The lawsuit, filed by the Justice Department last year with support from the state of Virginia and others, accuses Google of monopolistic behavior in the digital advertising sector. Google has consistently denied these allegations.
In response to the Justice Department’s claim for damages, Google has made a payment to cover alleged overcharges for online ads. The company believes this payment should negate the need for a jury trial, even if the government chooses not to accept the payment. The Justice Department has not yet responded to Google’s filing or indicated whether they will accept the payment. A hearing on the case is scheduled for June 21 in Virginia, with the trial set to begin in September.
Legal experts have differing opinions on the effectiveness of Google’s strategy. Some, like Mark Lemley of Stanford Law School, express doubt and suggest that a jury could potentially award damages exceeding Google’s pretrial payment. On the other hand, Herbert Hovenkamp of the University of Pennsylvania Law School believes Google’s move is a smart one, as juries may struggle with technical cases and lack the authority to dissolve companies.
Google’s decision to provide an actual payment rather than just an offer of compensation is seen as a strategic move in the legal proceedings. The company’s approach is being closely watched as the case moves forward. The outcome of this antitrust lawsuit could have significant implications for Google and the digital advertising industry as a whole.
In summary, Google has made a payment to the US government in an effort to avoid a jury trial in the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit related to its digital advertising business. The exact amount of the payment remains undisclosed, but Google hopes this action will eliminate the need for a trial by jury and allow the case to be decided by a judge. Legal experts have differing opinions on the effectiveness of Google’s strategy, with some expressing doubts about the potential outcomes. The case is set to proceed with a hearing in June and a trial scheduled for September, with significant implications for Google and the digital advertising sector at large.
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