California files antitrust lawsuit against Amazon

California Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Wednesday an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, claiming that the retail giant "stifled competition and caused increased prices" in the state. 

"Amazon coerces merchants into agreements that keep prices artificially high, knowing full well that they can't afford to say no. With other e-commerce platforms unable to compete on price, consumers turn to Amazon as a one-stop shop for all their purchases," Bonta said. "This perpetuates Amazon's market dominance." 

The 84-page lawsuit accuses Amazon of violating California's Unfair Competition Law and Cartwright Act through anticompetitive contracting practices.

The attorney general is seeking an order from the San Francisco Superior Court that prohibits "Amazon from entering into and enforcing its anticompetitive contracts" and awards "damages to compensate for the harms to consumers," among other things, officials stated.