3 Suits Dismissed Against Christie’s, Sotheby’s

A federal judge dismissed three antitrust lawsuits brought against auctioneers Christie’s International and Sotheby’s Holdings Inc. alleging they had fixed commission fees charged to customers in overseas auctions. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that U.S. antitrust laws do not apply to activities abroad unless it can be shown the conduct intended to have or had significant effects within the United States. The three cases were brought by eight parties who bought or sold items through auctions outside the United States, principally in London, although the goods were displayed in some instances in the U.S. The plaintiffs sought class-action status for the suits to represent similar customers involved in overseas auctions. Sotheby’s and Christie’s, the world’s two largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques, previously reached a proposed $512-million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging they colluded to keep their fees high at U.S. auctions. A hearing on the settlement is set for Friday, with Kaplan presiding.