Germany: Sawmills entitled to compensation of up to EUR 500 million after forestry administration violated antitrust law

A court in Germany has found that antitrust laws were breached over a 27-year period in the management of timber contracts, potentially leading to damages of up to €500 million. In the legal dispute between several sawmills and the state of Baden-Württemberg, the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs: the years of wood marketing was unlawful. The Ausgleichsgesellschaft consists of a group of 36 sawmills which sought damages of around €450 million (including interest). The plaintiff accused the state of Baden-Württemberg of having operated a log wood cartel for ...