AT&T Customers File Arbitration Cases Seeking to Block T-Mobile Merger

A group of lawyers has filed arbitration cases on behalf of 11 AT&T customers in hope of blocking the company’s planned $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA.

The New York-based firm of Bursor & Fisher law firm filed a 236-page arbitration demand on July 21, alleging that the proposed deal would harm competition in violation of the Clayton Antitrust Act. Although the deal already requires approval from the Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission, the law firm is seeking to represent individual AT&T customers who want to bring their own legal challenges to the deal. “Government enforcement is an important part of the antitrust laws, but the Clayton Act also permits private parties who may be adversely affected to challenge a proposed merger,” attorney Scott Bursor said in a statement. “That means any AT&T cellphone, data or iPad customer who will suffer higher prices and diminished service because of this merger can sue to stop it from happening.” AT&T’s standard contract terms prevent class-action suits but allow for disputes to be brought up for arbitration, at AT&T’s expense.