ANTITRUST DAMAGES CLAIMS UNDER EU AND NATIONAL …

ANTITRUST DAMAGES CLAIMS UNDER EU AND NATIONALLAWATRANSPORTATION SECTOR FOCUS
Pedro Callol
Precedents of cartels in the transportation sector. Cartel in the trucks sector.The EU antitrust damages Directive.National implementation of the Damages Directive.Some legal issues relevant to antitrust damages claims.Conclusions.
Table of contents
Decision oftheEuropeanCommission, of 19July2016, in case AT.39824,Trucks(OJ 2017/C 108/05).AgainstMAN (leniency programme), Volvo/Renault, Daimler,Ivecoand DAF.The highest fine imposed on a cartel (€2.926 million).During 14years (1997 through 2011).
Cartel in the trucks sector
Other cartels in the transportsector
European UnionDecision of the European Commission, of 15 July 2015, in case AT.40098,Blocktrains(OJ 2015/C 351/06).ExpressInterfracht(Austrian railway) andSchenker(German railway).During8years (from July 2004 to June 2012).SpainRefrigeratedtransport(NMCCDecision of 25 June2015).Internationalmovingcompanies(NMCCDecision of 6 September2016).Securitycompanies: Prosegur andLoomis(NMCCDecision of 10 November2016).Balearictransport of passengers (NMCC Decision of 9 March 2017).
EU Directive 104/2014
Directive on antitrust damages actions. Main improvements:Nationalcourtscanordercompaniestodiscloseevidence.A finaldecisionof anationalCompetitionAuthorityfindinganinfringementwillautomaticallyconstituteproofofthatinfringementbeforecourts.Harmonized limitation period.Joint and several liability is the rule.Discovery.
Implementation of the Directivein Spain
February 2015: Proposal26 May 2017: RoyalDecree-Law 9/2017Instrument of urgency.The deadline to implement the Directive expired in December 2016.It amends:The Spanish Competition Act (regarding substantive issues).The Spanish Civil Procedure Act (concerning procedural issues such as access to evidence).
Main improvements:General rule of statutory joint and several liability of cartel members (exception to the general rule).Presumptionofliabilityofparentcompaniesfordamagescausedbytheirsubsidiaries(plustotheDirective).Statuteoflimitations:fiveyears(exceptiontotheone-yearperiodfornon-contractualdamages,whichcontinuesto be inforce).Finaldecisions of national competition authorities andcourtsestablishing the existence ofan infringementwill be considered binding on Spanish civilcourts (novelty in Spain departing from thefootball rightscase).New rulesregulatingaccesstomeansofevidence.
Implementation of the Directivein Spain (II)
Structure of a damages claim:some practical issues
Territorial and subject matter of jurisdiction.Joinder of claims. Anchoring defendant.Time bar.Thedies a quo.The Sugar cartel case.Existence of damage.Joint and several liability.Interest.Ordinary interest.Default interest.Procedural interest.
Possibility of claiming damagesagainst the Spanish State due tothe delay in implementing the Directive
Direct effect of DirectivesTheVanGenden Looscase (1963).TheMarshallcase (1986).TheFostercase (1990).ThePretorediSalòcase (1987)Principle of State liabilityTheFactortamecase (1990).TheTögelcase (1998).TheFrancovichcase (1991).
Possibility of claiming damagesagainst the Spanish State due tothe delay in implementing the Directive (II)
3 requirements:Thelegal rule breached aims to confer rights onindividuals.Theviolation is sufficientlycharacterized.Thereis a direct causal relationship between the breach of the State’s obligation and the damage suffered by thevictims.
Thank you very much!