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Local Governments Get $6.8M from Ohio Road-Salt Settlement
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
Update 12:46 p.m.
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) – Attorney General Mike DeWine says 848 public entities in Ohio will get a share of the state’s $11.5 million settlement with rock salt producers accused of conspiring to drive up prices.
The state Department of Transportation gets $1.7 million from the settlement as Ohio’s largest single rock salt buyer. About $6.8 million will be distributed to local governments. Some of the money also goes to the Ohio Turnpike Commission and Ohio’s antitrust fund.
DeWine says all the public entities that made eligible claims are getting a check.
The settlement ends a lawsuit in which the state alleged that Chicago-based Morton Salt Inc. and Minnesota-based Cargill Inc. agreed not to compete with each other to inflate prices on rock salt used to de-ice roads and bridges. Both companies denied wrongdoing.
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) – Attorney General Mike DeWine is ready to announce which local governments and other public entities get a share of Ohio’s $11.5 million settlement with rock salt producers accused of conspiring to drive up prices.
DeWine’s office has said cities, townships and universities were among about 850 entities that filed claims. He was scheduled to announce the settlement distribution Thursday in the Cleveland suburb of Independence.
The settlement ends a lawsuit in which the state alleged that Chicago-based Morton Salt Inc. and Minnesota-based Cargill Inc. agreed not to compete with each other to inflate prices, leading to above-market prices for rock salt to de-ice roads and bridges. Both companies denied wrongdoing.
Ohio public entities that bought salt from them between July 2008 and July 2011 were able to file claims.