CoStar Group Unit, Hotels Win Motion to Toss Price-Fixing Claims

CoStar Group Inc.'s Smith Travel Research unit, along with a group of hotel chains, defeated allegations they fixed prices for high-end rooms, as a federal judge ruled the plaintiffs didn’t plead direct evidence of an agreement that violated antitrust laws.

The Aug. 29 ruling by Judge Robert S. Lasnik of the US District Court for the Western District of Washington adds to decisions in similar hotel price-fixing cases at the district and appellate court level that tossed claims of an antitrust conspiracy.

Hotel guest plaintiffs last year accused luxury hotel chains, including Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and Hyatt Hotels Corp. ...