Sarah Auchterlonie

Associate

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

Current

Current

Daimler, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz In re New Motor Vehicles Canadian Export Antitrust Litigation Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP won a major appellate victory for various U.S. and Canadian Chrysler entities and Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC before the First Circuit Court of Appeals, which dismissed federal injunctive claims and vacated and remanded certification of a damages class consisting of millions of consumers who purchased new motor vehicles. Plaintiffs filed over 100 lawsuits in various state and federal courts beginning in 2003 against number automobile companies alleging that many of the major automobile manufacturers illegally conspired to prevent new vehicles destined for the Canadian market from entering the United States, with the alleged effect of raising new motor vehicle prices in the U.S. This ongoing action is one the largest antitrust class actions in the U.S. with alleged damages of approximately $3 billion. The federal claims were consolidated by the Multi-District Litigation Panel before Judge D. Brock Hornby of the United States District of Maine. In 2006, Judge Hornby certified an injunctive class of new motor vehicle purchasers under the federal Clayton Act. At the same time, Judge Hornby also certified a damages class of new motor vehicle purchasers under the state laws of 23 states, after Weil Gotshal had successfully argued for the dismissal of federal damages claims in 2004. Upon interlocutory appeal of class certification, the First Circuit Court of Appeals found no continuing basis for the injunctive claim and dismissed it, consequently calling into the question the federal court’s subject matter jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims and its personal jurisdiction over the Canadian entities. The First Circuit went on to vacate the certified state damages class, and remanded it to the district court for a more thorough inquiry into the plaintiffs’ theory of antitrust impact, assuming the district court finds a jurisdictional basis by which to keep the remaining claims before it.

Current

Cameroonian Asylee Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs/ Cameroonian Asylee Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP secured asylum on behalf of a Cameroonian widow who was abused and persecuted by her late husband's politically powerful tribal family. more

Current

Footstar Foot Locker's acquisition of Footaction Obtained FTC clearance regarding Foot Locker’s acquisition of Footaction. Foot Locker and Footaction were the number one and two athletic footwear chains. Our client, Footstar, Footaction’s parent, sold the division as part of a bankruptcy reorganization. Clearance was obtained without a Second Request despite the compressed timeframe for filings involving bankruptcy assets.

Washington Univ in St Louis

J.D.

2002

University of South Dakota

B.A.

1998

Publication