CUNEO GILBERT FLANNERY & LADUCA, LLP RE-APPOINTED AS INTERIM CO-LEAD COUNSEL IN CONSOLIDATED FIRE APPARATUS PRICE-FIXING MDL
Federal court re-appoints firm to lead multidistrict antitrust litigation alleging major manufacturers conspired to inflate fire apparatus prices and restrict supply
GREEN BAY, WI — A federal court has re-appointed Cuneo Gilbert Flannery & LaDuca, LLP as one of four Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel for Direct Purchasers the consolidated multidistrict antitrust litigation alleging that leading fire apparatus manufacturers conspired to fix prices and limit supply, driving up the cost of essential firefighting equipment for municipalities and fire departments nationwide.
The appointment by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin positions the firm to lead the litigation on behalf of a proposed class of direct purchasers, including cities and fire departments that bought fire apparatus during a period when prices doubled and wait times stretched into multiple years.
Fire apparatus prices have doubled over the past ten years, far outpacing inflation. Municipalities have been forced to hold onto older, less reliable equipment, redirect funds from other public services, and endure long delays in delivery.
"When manufacturers manipulate the market for emergency equipment, the consequences go beyond dollars and cents; communities are left with aging fleets, stretched budgets, and real gaps in public safety," said Michael Flannery, Partner at Cuneo Gilbert Flannery & LaDuca, LLP. "We are committed to fighting for the cities and fire departments that have been paying the price for this conduct, and to making sure this kind of anticompetitive behavior does not go unanswered."
The firm will now lead the litigation on behalf of cities, towns, and fire departments that have struggled with inflated costs, delayed deliveries, and aging fleets as a direct result of the alleged misconduct. Plaintiffs are seeking treble damages and court-ordered measures to prevent further anticompetitive conduct.
“We are honored to be re-appointed as Interim Co-Lead Counsel in this MDL,” said Charles J. LaDuca, Chairman of Cuneo Gilbert Flannery & LaDuca, LLP. “We look forward to working with co-counsel and the Court to move this case forward on behalf of the municipalities and fire departments pursuing relief.”
Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP has built its reputation on holding powerful interests accountable on behalf of the people and communities they harm. This case reflects that commitment. The firm will pursue every avenue available to recover what municipalities and fire departments are owed and to restore fairness to a market that serves public safety.
The case is proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin under Case No. 2:26-md-03179.