AT&T Says DoJ Fails to Show 'Clear Error' in TWI Merger Case

摘要

The Department of Justice lost its lawsuit attempting to block the merger of AT&T, Inc., and Time Warner, Inc., based on the district court's reading of the factual evidence, and it has failed to meet the standard of demonstrating "clear error" by the trial court in its appeal, AT&T has told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Senior District Judge Richard Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rejected the Justice Department's attempt to block the merger earlier this year. The Justice Department subsequently agreed not to seek a stay of the ruling pending appeal and not to oppose the elimination of the waiting period imposed by the district court's case management order, clearing the way for the transaction to close, in exchange for commitments from AT&T to "manage the [TWI] Turner networks as part of a separate business unit, distinct from the operations of AT&T Communications, which includes AT&T's DIRECTV and U-verse businesses" (TR, June 22).