Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. County of Stanislaus

Opinion

KENNARD, J.

In this case, a California county brought a class action in the federal court, alleging that a utility company had violated state and federal antitrust laws by illegal price-fixing that had substantially increased the county’s costs for natural gas. The utility company then initiated this lawsuit in the state court challenging the county’s power to bring the federal action, contending that only the state Attorney General may bring antitrust actions on a county’s behalf when, as here, the alleged illegal activities and injuries occurred primarily outside the county. We…