Source: Reuters
A U.S. judge has dismissed most of a consumer lawsuit against Idexx Laboratories, a Veterinary diagnostics company accused of inflating the cost of animal health services through exclusive contracts with veterinary practices. Chief U.S. District Judge Stacey Neumann ruled that pet owners lacked legal standing to pursue many of their state-law claims and had previously dismissed the plaintiffs’ federal antitrust claims.
However, Neumann will allow the case to proceed under specific state laws in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Missouri. The lawsuit, filed in 2022 on behalf of pet owners from 14 states, claimed Idexx’s pricing practices led to higher Veterinary costs for diagnostic testing, such as heartworm tests. Although most claims were dismissed, Idexx must formally respond to the remaining allegations by April 11. The company, which generated $3.9 billion in revenue in 2024, had previously settled FTC antitrust claims in 2013 without admitting wrongdoing. No comments were issued by either party.