The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against a software firm and several landlords in the Portland area, alleging that they colluded to fix rent costs. According to the lawsuit, the software firm developed a tool that allowed landlords to coordinate and set prices for rental properties in the area. This tool allegedly enabled the landlords to artificially inflate rental prices, resulting in higher costs for tenants.
The lawsuit also alleges that the software firm provided training and support to the landlords on how to use the tool to manipulate rent prices. This manipulation of the rental market is said to have occurred over a period of several years, affecting thousands of tenants in the Portland area.
The DOJ’s lawsuit seeks to hold the software firm and the landlords accountable for their alleged anti-competitive behavior. If found guilty, they could face significant fines and other penalties for violating antitrust laws.
Tenants and housing advocates in the Portland area have expressed outrage over the allegations, noting that rising rent costs have already put a strain on many residents. They hope that the lawsuit will lead to greater accountability and transparency in the rental market, in order to prevent similar collusion from occurring in the future.
The software firm and landlords involved in the lawsuit have yet to respond to the allegations publicly. However, the DOJ has made it clear that they are committed to investigating and prosecuting any instances of anti-competitive behavior that harm consumers in the housing market.
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