News

It is established case law that European competition law is addressed towards undertakings, and not to legal entities. It is also settled case law that within an undertaking, an infringement of a subsidiary can, under certain conditions, be attributed to a parent company.

As far as Advocate General Pitruzella is concerned, there is however no logical reason why liability can only be attributed upward, from subsidiary to parent company, but could not also be attributed downward, from parent company to subsidiary. This is the essence of his opinion in the Sumal case, which was published today.

Theodoor Verheij

The Netherlands is an attractive jurisdiction for the private enforcement of European competition law. This is partly because the Dutch courts assume jurisdiction rather quickly in that type of cases. A recent judgment of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal confirms that the jurisdiction of the Dutch courts is broad indeed. It is not unlimited, however, as evidenced by a recent judgment of the Amsterdam District Court in a different case. Interesting is that in both cases the Skanska judgment of the European Court of Justice was invoked.

Theodoor Verheij

On 30 June 2020, the final text of the draft EU group-claims directive (the Directive) was published. The final text was agreed between representatives of the European Commission, the member state governments and the European Parliament on 22 June 2020. The Directive is said to be adopted by the European Parliament this fall.

Theodoor Verheij

Bas Lem

Like our health care system, our legal system has its limits. Due to the recent developments in respect of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the courts in the Netherlands have partially closed and only handle specific, urgent cases. This will in any event be the case until 6 April 2020 and, depending on further developments, this might even remain the status quo for a longer period of time.

We made for you a free online legal tool which enables you to quickly make an agreement on provisional measures.

Bas Megens

Bas Lem

On 1 January 2020, the Settlement of Large-scale Losses or Damage (Class Actions) Act (in Dutch abbreviated as the WAMCA) entered into force. This Act provides for the possibility to not only request a declaratory decision, but also claim damages in a collective action. Two-and-a-half months later, the first collective damages action is there. Stichting Diesel Emissions Justice (SDEJ) has filed a collective mass tort claim for 8.5 million Dutch and European car owners in respect of the Volkswagen Dieselgate. This appears from the Central register for collective actions.

Theodoor Verheij

Bas Lem

The tables have turned. In May last year, we reported about an important judgment of the Amsterdam District Court in the cartel damages action of Stichting Cartel Compensation (SCC) in respect of the Air Cargo cartel. That judgment (ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2019:3394) concerned the question of whether the Amsterdam District Court, as national court, was authorised to privately enforce the European prohibition on cartels in respect of flights from before certain dates.

Theodoor Verheij

Today, 10 March, the Amsterdam Appellate Court rendered judgment on the validity of the assignments in the cartel damages action of Stichting Cartel Compensation (SCC) in respect of the Air Cargo cartel (ECLI:NL:GHAMS:2020:713). These assignments concern the damages claims of purchasers of Air Cargo services that have incurred damages as a result of the cartel. Many Airlines colluded to increase prices inter alia by coordinating their action on surcharges for fuel.

Theodoor Verheij

We are proud to announce that Bas Megens joins Brande & Verheij LLP as partner as per 18 November 2019. At Brande & Verheij, Bas will continue his Government & Regulatory Litigation and Life Sciences & Healthcare Litigation practice. Bas has 10 years of experiences in assisting major parties in the Life Sciences and Healthcare sectors in both civil and administrative law litigation, including ample experience in summary proceedings. Bas will continue to use his in-depth knowledge of the Life Sciences and Healthcare regulatory framework, European law and the application of administrative law rules to engage in high profile litigation in this field.

Bas Lem

On 9 July 2019, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal denied a claim of Commerz against the Port of Rotterdam (Havenbedrijf Rotterdam N.V.). Commerz claimed EUR 70 million (including EUR 46 million for interest) on the basis of a guarantee issued by the former director of the Port of Rotterdam in 2004.

After 15 years of litigation, four decisions of the Courts of Appeal, two decisions of the Supreme Court, and a decision of the European Court of Justice, the last remaining claim on the basis of the guarantees issued by the former director of the Port of Rotterdam Willem Scholten in 2003-2004, has been denied.

Jeroen van den Brande

Today, 15 May, the Amsterdam District Court rendered an important judgment in the cartel damages actions in respect of the Trucks cartel.

Several known European Truck producers colluded on Truck pricing and on passing on the costs of compliance with stricter emission rules. The European Commission has imposed record fines of several billion Euros in these cases. The Commission's investigation revealed that the Truck producers had engaged in a Cartel relating to coordinating prices for medium and heavy trucks in the European Economic Area, the timing for the introduction of emission technologies, and the passing on to customers of the costs for the emission technologies. The infringement covered the entire EEA and lasted 14 years.

Theodoor Verheij