court
Big-city attorneys could sue over price gouging
In California, SB 1365 would give city attorneys in places over 750,000 people a new way to pursue antitrust and price-gouging cases for residents and local agencies.
California’s biggest cities could get more direct control over antitrust enforcement. SB 1365 would let qualifying city attorneys investigate and prosecute Cartwright Act cases for people, public agencies and other local entities inside the city.
- Big-city city attorneys could sue over antitrust violations.
- The bill covers California cities with more than 750,000 people.
- City attorneys would get more investigative power before filing.
- The Attorney General could still step in if needed.
- Local offices could keep similar recoveries and expenses.
In California, the legal office in a big city could soon have a much larger role in policing market abuse. SB 1365 would let the city attorney of any city with more than 750,000 people initiate and prosecute certain Cartwright Act cases, the state’s antitrust law, on behalf of the city, public agencies and political subdivisions inside it, and residents who live there.
A new local enforcement lane
The practical change is not just who can file suit. A qualifying city attorney would also get Attorney General-like investigative powers once there is a reasonable belief that a violation may exist. That would give large city law offices a way to look deeper into suspected antitrust conduct before they head to court, instead of waiting for the state to take the lead.
The bill is aimed at cases that can affect daily life in dense urban areas, where a handful of companies can shape prices, supply and access for a huge number of people. It would let those city attorneys act for the city itself, any public agency or political subdivision wholly within the city, and natural persons living there.
The state keeps the final word
The Attorney General would not lose oversight. The office would still get notice and could take charge of an investigation or prosecution if that is needed in the public interest, so the state remains the backstop even as cities gain more room to act.
SB 1365 also gives the new local power a financial edge. A city attorney who starts one of these cases could retain similar proceeds or expenses to those available to the Attorney General or district attorneys, which means the bill changes not just enforcement authority but the incentives to use it.