Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) trial staff has urged that the commission should not delay the virtual trial slated for April 13 against the tobacco manufacturer Altria's $12.8 billion investment in electronic cigarette company Juul.
Juul Labs Inc. and Altria Group Inc are demanding to delay the trial further from the current date of April 13 to mid-July, considering the worsening pandemic outbreak. The FTC's trial staff is opposing both the company's demands by stating that it is unrealistic speculation that holding an in-person trial in mid-July will be safe. FTC's complaint counsel said that the proceedings should begin virtually at the start of mid-April and keep the proceedings virtual.
The staffers informed that although the vaccine news is promising, it is not clear if the chief administrative law judge and his staff, witnesses, and counsel will get the vaccination any soon, making it better to conduct virtual hearings for the case.
The attorneys for the companies argued that the trial should be delayed further, as the masses will not get the vaccine until late June or early July. They even informed that starting virtual hearings will not prevent the health risk, as the attorneys will require to plan accordingly by gathering in-person evidence and prepare witnesses. The attorneys even raised concern over the credibility of the testifying witnesses.
The Federal Trade Commission is overseeing the case, In the Matter of Altria Group/Juul Labs, file number 191-0075.
