Google avoids jury trial in US antitrust case with $2.3 million payment

Google's legal team explained that the payment was a strategic decision to avoid unnecessary legal battles and expedite the resolution of the case

by e4m Staff
Published: Sep 17, 2024 3:27 PM | 1 min read

Google has successfully averted a jury trial in an ongoing antitrust case by making a substantial payment to the US Department of Justice. The tech giant tendered a cashier's check for $2,289,751, covering the full amount of damages calculated by the DOJ's experts.

The case, brought by the DOJ and 18 states, alleges that Google maintains a monopoly in the digital advertising market. By avoiding a trial, Google aims to reduce litigation costs and focus on the core issues of the case.

Google's legal team explained that the payment was a strategic decision to avoid unnecessary legal battles and expedite the resolution of the case. The payment covered one of the claims in the lawsuit, following a DOJ request for a jury trial.

Google's lawyers said in a statement, "Rather than require the court to wade into DOJ's uncharted and unwarranted demand for a jury trial, and to prevent the waste of resources that would result from defending against a damages claim worth far less than a fraction of the cost of litigation, Google has tendered the United States payment of the full amount of damages it seeks, trebled, plus prejudgment interest."

Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled in favour of Google, confirming that the payment was sufficient to satisfy the DOJ's damages claim. This ruling effectively rendered the issue of damages moot, allowing the case to proceed without the need for a jury trial.