San Francisco Lawyer Sues To Stop Anheuser-Busch, Miller Deal
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – A San Francisco lawyer has reportedly filed a lawsuit on the behalf of beer drinkers to block the proposed merger of Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller over antitrust concerns.
According to Bloomberg News, attorney Joseph Alioto filed the lawsuit representing 23 consumers in a federal court on Tuesday.
The plaintiffs claim the Anheuser-Busch InBev's proposed $110 million takeover of SABMiller would violate antitrust law by creating a monopoly in the beer industry.
Beers produced by AB InBev include Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois and Beck's. Miller, Coors, Foster's and Blue Moon are among SAB Miller's beers.
The lawsuit was filed in Oregon, which has become known for its local and craft beer industry.
"Oregon is more impacted by this due to our large craft beer industry and the large amount of people who drink craft beers," attorney Christopher Cauble, who is also working on the case, told the Oregonian newspaper.
AB Inbev told Bloomberg that the lawsuit is without merit.
"The U.S. beer market has never been more competitive, with strong growth from craft brewers, and nothing in this transaction will change that fact," said John Blood, the AB InBev's vice president of legal and corporate affairs.