United States Sixth Circuit

In an antitrust case involving the legality of an agreement which established an exclusive network of preferred providers to supply types of medical equipment to enrollees in certain health-benefits plans offered to Chrysler, Ford, and state employees and retirees, a judgment and sanctions against plaintiff whose application to the network was rejected are affirmed, and appellate sanctions imposed, where: 1) plaintiff's antitrust claims lacked any conceivable merit; 2) a challenge to a discovery order failed; and 3) sanctions imposed below were not an abuse of discretion, and further, appellate sanctions were warranted.

Appellate Information

• Decided 05/07/2008
• Published 05/07/2008

Judges

• Before:  MOORE, GILMAN, and SUTTON, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Sixth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  Stephen M. Ryan, Stephen M. Ryan, P.L.L.C., Bingham Farms, Michigan, for Appellants.  John A. Cook, Law Office of John A. Cook, PLLC, Royal Oak, Michigan, for Appellees.   ON BRIEF:  Stephen M. Ryan, Stephen M. Ryan, P.L.L.C., Bingham Farms, Michigan, for Appellants.  John A. Cook, LAW Office of John A. Cook, PLLC, Royal Oak, Michigan, Gerard Mantese, Mark C. Rossman, Mantese & Rossman, P.C., Troy, Michigan, for Appellees.