Federal Court Allows Attorney General Nessel’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple to Proceed

LANSING – The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey recently denied Apple’s motion to dismiss a civil antitrust lawsuit filed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and 15 other state attorneys general. The lawsuit, filed in March 2024, alleges that Apple illegally maintains a monopoly over smartphones by selectively imposing contractual restrictions on, and withholding critical access points from, developers. 

In the decision issued on June 30 (PDF), the Court allowed the case to proceed, reaffirming that state attorneys general, independent of the federal government, have standing to sue companies whose anticompetitive conduct harms the well-being of its residents. The Court also found that the facts alleged in the lawsuit support the coalition’s argument that Apple engaged in anticompetitive behavior with intent and substantial likelihood of monopolizing the market.  

“Mega corporations cannot be allowed to dictate the rules of the digital marketplace at the expense of their customers,” Nessel said. “I am pleased the Court has allowed this case to proceed, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to protect customers and promote fair competition.” 

Attorney General Nessel filed the lawsuit alongside the DOJ and the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin.