Burns Charest LLP announced today that it had partnered with Linda Nussbaum LLP to file suit in Dallas, Texas against the nation’s largest dental product suppliers.  Defendants include Benco Dental Supply Co., Henry Schein, Inc., and Patterson Companies, Inc.

Burns Charest and Nussbaum filed the class action complaint on behalf of a class of direct purchasers who purchased dental supplies from defendants. The plaintiffs claim that the dental supply giants conspired to monopolize the dental supplies market by, among other anticompetitive actions, engaging in and/or threatening group boycotts in order to block or otherwise substantially impair the ability of rivals to compete in the market. As a result, defendants were able to not only maintain but increase the prices they charged dentists and other direct purchasers for dental supplies.

Firm founder and co-managing partner Warren Burns stated:  “We are proud to be able to bring this suit with Linda Nussbaum on behalf of dental supply purchasers.”

Burns continued:  “Private antitrust suits like this one serve an incredibly important role.  They help preserve our free market system.  And they level the playing field for businesses that have been harmed by unlawful monopolistic practices.”

The suit is Corwin v. Benco Dental Supply Co., Henry Schein, Inc., and Patterson Companies, Inc., Case No. 3:16-cv-00193-K, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division.