Attorney General Expands Outreach Efforts

With Antitrust Seminar for Government Agencies

HARTFORD – Attorney General George Jepsen continued outreach efforts by his Office by hosting an antitrust seminar designed to help state and municipal purchasing authorities avoid being victimized by antitrust and competition-related schemes and to save taxpayer money.

The half-day seminar Tuesday provided antitrust training to nearly 200 participants on federal and state antitrust laws, strategies to detect potential violations and a discussion of “best practice” prevention strategies the purchasing authorities could incorporate into their policies.

Titled “Price Fixing, Bid Rigging & Market Allocation Schemes: What They Are and What to Look For and How to Prevent Them,” the seminar was organized and led by attorneys and staff from the Attorney General’s Antitrust Department.

“The quality of the work of our Antitrust Department is recognized nationally by other state Attorneys General and by the U.S. Department of Justice,” said Attorney General Jepsen, who is co-chairman of the Antitrust Committee of the National Association of Attorneys General.

“If the message to businesses is that if you want to compete for state or municipal business projects, you must do so fairly or we will catch you,” Jepsen said. “Sharing my department’s experience and knowledge with Government purchasing authorities as well as ideas for ‘best practices’ is important to protect taxpayer dollars.”

Assistant Attorney General Michael E. Cole, chief of the Antitrust Department, said the discussion was based on first-hand experiences and real-world examples.  “The types of conduct we discussed has occurred and continues to plague Connecticut and other states,” Cole said. “We investigate and prosecute these schemes every day.”

The participants represented more than 25 state or quasi-public agencies and the Connecticut university system and nearly 40 municipalities and school boards, among others.

Assistant Attorney General Joseph Nielsen also presented at the seminar. Assistant Attorney General Laura Martella, Administrative Assistant Lynn Strobel and Paralegal Specialist Holly MacDonald played a significant role in planning the event.  Additional seminars are anticipated.

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