Maryland Antitrust Act

This act is a state antitrust law that prohibits restraints of trade and commerce, monopolization and attempts to monopolize, conduct whose purpose or effect is to restrain trade or substantially lessen competition, and price discrimination in commercial transactions, subject to stated exceptions and limits on its application. Enforcement runs through both public and private channels: the attorney general may investigate suspected violations by subpoena and written interrogatory and bring actions in the state's own name, as parens patriae, or in federal court on behalf of state and local government, while private parties injured in their business or property may sue for treble damages. Available remedies and mechanisms include injunctive relief, civil penalties, forfeiture of a franchise, entity liability for the acts of its agents, attachment, and defined limitation periods governing when a cause of action accrues.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.