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July 12, 2016
Posted in  75-1.1 Exemptions

A Quirky Exemption: “Internal” Business Disputes

A recent decision by the North Carolina Business Court highlights an important—and counterintuitive—limit on the scope of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75-1.1. Section 75-1.1 says expressly that it applies to practices “in or affecting commerce.” Courts have interpreted this phrase as narrowing the fact patterns that the statute covers. The employment […]

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June 28, 2016
Posted in  Other 75-1.1 Issues

Can Failing Antitrust Claims Be Repackaged as Unfair Methods of Competition? The North Carolina Business Court Answers No

Although courts sometimes describe N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75-1.1 as an outgrowth of antitrust law, most 75-1.1 claims do not arise from antitrust fact patterns. SiteLink Software, LLC v. Red Nova Labs, Inc. is an exception. That case involves overlapping antitrust claims and section 75-1.1 claims. In this setting, the […]

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May 24, 2016
Posted in  Damages

Treble-Damage Awards as Penalties

Plaintiffs who prove violations of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75-1.1 are automatically entitled to treble damages under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 75-16. The automatic trebling of damages for 75-1.1 claims often leads to substantial verdicts and settlements. It raises several questions: Why are plaintiffs allowed to automatically recover treble damages? […]

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