Johnson & Johnson
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Firm agrees to sell AcuVue contact lenses through alternative distribution channels such as mail order companies as part of a $60 mil. settlement of a 1994 antitrust class-action lawsuit. Brought by 32 states attorneys general in Jacksonville, Florida federal court, the suit alleged J&J conspired to refuse to sell lenses through entities other than eye-care specialists, resulting in higher prices. J&J denies the charges. Competitors Ciba Vision and Bausch & Lomb reached separate settlements (1"The Gray Sheet" Feb. 26, 2001, p. 14). Granted preliminary court approval May 22, the J&J settlement will include a $25 mil. payment to plaintiffs, a $30 mil. current customer benefits package, and a $5 mil. fund for former customers. A separate $860 mil. AcuVue proposed class action settlement, announced April 17, relates to marketing identical lenses as both one-day and two-week disposables (2"The Gray Sheet" April 23, 2001, p. 17)
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