Microsoft sued by Arizona Fire District Vista News Discuss Microsoft sued by Arizona Fire District in the Windows Vista forums; Microsoft Faces New Antitrust Class Action In Arizona Today, September 18, 2007, 10 hours ago A local governing body near Phoenix, Arizona has slapped Microsoft with a class action lawsuit, ...

[Snuffy]

Microsoft Faces New Antitrust Class Action In Arizona
Today, September 18, 2007, 10 hours ago
A local governing body near Phoenix, Arizona has slapped Microsoft with a class action lawsuit, citing antitrust claims similar to those that resulted in a series of multi-million dollar settlements between Microsoft and consumers in more than a dozen states beginning in 2004.

Arizona's Daisy Mountain Fire District, a political sub-division, said it's reviving the claims because the existing settlements do not apply to government agencies. The Fire District said in court documents that it wants to recover "overpayments made to Microsoft for its operating systems, word processing and spreadsheet applications software." It's also seeking triple damages and court costs.

The Fire District charges Microsoft with engaging in "anticompetitive and monopolistic practices" and is seeking a jury trial. Attorneys for the Fire District are asking the court to open the case to all governing bodies in Arizona, giving it class action status.

[felix8406]

This is just like drunk drivers who hit and run. A penalty for drunk driving, at least in the US, is much more severe than for a hit and run. So drunk drivers will rather leave the scene of an accident and get a chance accused for hit and run, than to stay and be thrown in jail and probably worst.

Microsoft lawyers knew what they were getting into. They get sued and pay a few million dollars here and there, while ripping billions.