US: SCOTUS declines to hear Convention Center antitrust case

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review an August lower-court ruling favoring the San Diego Convention Center in an antitrust lawsuit brought against center operators. Chicago-based United National Maintenance Inc. (UNM), a vendor of trade show cleaning services, sued the San Diego Convention Center Corp. in November 2007, after center officials adopted a policy in July of that year mandating that the city-appointed corporation would be the exclusive provider of cleaning services staffing within the facility.

The suit alleged interference with contractual relationships and “prospective economic advantage,” as well as antitrust violations. In May 2011, the original U.S. District Court trial jury awarded UNM damages of $668,905 on the claim regarding intentional interference with contractual relations, but did not reach a verdict on remaining claims. Convention Center officials said the Supreme Court’s decision not to review the case means that UNM’s antitrust claims are now settled, and there is no longer any exposure for triple damages, attorney’s fees or punitive damages.

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