A coalition of 12 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit on Monday to block the $111 billion merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery, citing violations of federal antitrust law.
The legal challenge faces a critical court hearing on Friday to determine whether a judge will temporarily halt the transaction, which previously received Department of Justice approval in June.
>>> Ancient Tundra Survival Skills Reborn on the Alaska Native World Stage
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is leading the litigation, expressed confidence in the state-level challenge under the Clayton Act to prevent illegal market concentration in the film and television sectors.
"In our complaint, it's really clean, clear, concise," said Bonta.
Bonta pointed out that the data presented in the complaint traditionally forms the basis for courts to find such corporate mergers presumptively unlawful.
"It's precise with the data points that we've shared and courts have traditionally accepted exactly those types of arguments and that kind of data as a basis for finding a merger to be presumptively unlawful," said Bonta.
The California attorney general also expressed regret over the lack of bipartisan support for this specific case, noting that antitrust matters should remain non-partisan.
"I hope it's not because of any pressure from the head of the Republican party, Donald Trump, on any those Republican entities, because antitrust cases should be non-partisan or bipartisan," said Bonta.
Bonta emphasized that these cases are ultimately about maintaining free and fair markets.
"They're just about free and fair markets, and I think we all agree on that," said Bonta.
