LA County Fire Sues Fire Truck, Equipment Makers for Antitrust Mergers that Doubled Prices and Delayed Deliveries

LA County Fire sues fire truck, equipment makers for antitrust mergers that doubled prices and delayed deliveries

Los Angeles County is suing a private equity firm and corporate fire truck manufacturers for violation of antitrust and unfair competition laws stemming from years of acquisitions and mergers that have shrunk the market for new fire trucks, fire engines and equipment, massively jacking up prices, according to the county. Costs have doubled in many instances, and merger activity of now fewer companies have delayed deliveries for needed parts and …

Fire apparatus crisis sparks investigations, lawsuits over soaring prices and delays

The IAFF called for federal scrutiny of manufacturers more than a year ago. Now states and local governments are launching investigations and lawsuits over alleged price fixing and market consolidation.