Lawyers representing consumers attempting to stop JetBlue Airways Corp.’s $3.8 billion merger with Spirit Airlines Inc. were denied their $34 million fee request, by Judge William G. Young of the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. According to Judge Young, the plaintiffs could not be considered a “prevailing party” in this matter.
As per an electronic docket order entered Thursday, Judge Young cited that no substantial success was achieved by the plaintiffs in this action. This decision represents another significant development in the consumer lawsuit filed in 2022 aiming to prevent the merger, which, critics argued, would eliminate JetBlue’s main ultra-low-cost competitor.
- The ruling emphasized the lack of substantial success for the plaintiffs.
- This lawsuit is separate from another case that effectively blocked the merger earlier this year.
Legal professionals and corporate entities invested in this case should note the implications of this ruling, especially with regards to fee recovery in class action and antitrust litigation.