States Oppose Microsoft's Request for More Time in Antitrust Case
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nine states on Monday opposed Microsoft's request for more time to produce evidence in the antitrust case against the company.
The states told U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly that their broad proposed penalties -- which cover many Microsoft products -- should come as no surprise to Microsoft. The states rejected the company's claim that it needs nine months to sift through millions of documents.
"Delay only further damages consumers who deserve effective, fair remedies for the violations of law found by two courts," Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said. "Microsoft has abundant resources and time to answer for its lawbreaking."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Microsoft has blamed the states for any delay in the case, saying the penalties constitute a new case against the company. The states have called for penalties that are far stronger than those in Microsoft's settlement with the federal government and nine other states.
The current schedule calls for a trial in March to determine what extra penalties Microsoft should face for anticompetitive practices. If the judge grants Microsoft's request, that trial would be delayed until at least late summer.
Kollar-Kotelly also plans to review the Bush administration's settlement with Microsoft in March. The nine states that did not sign onto that settlement are Iowa, California, Connecticut, West Virginia, Utah, Minnesota, Kansas, Florida and Massachusetts.