Fanatics, Panini Advance Sport-Card Suits Against Each Other (1)

Fanatics Inc. must face antitrust claims brought by Italian rival Panini SpA that it monopolized the markets for major US professional sports leagues trading cards.

Judge Laura Taylor Swain of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on Monday denied Fanatics’ motion to dismiss Sherman Act claims, saying Panini adequately pleaded that Fanatics had acquired monopoly power through anticompetitive means.

The allegations were enough at the early stage of litigation to “show that Fanatics not only has the current power to set prices and exclude competitors from the Relevant Market, but that its power will only ...