AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Aug. 7 that his office has reached an agreement with Henry Schein Dental over anti-competitive conduct allegations.
According to the state, Schein and two of his competitors worked together to stop the Texas Dental Association from providing lower-cost, online dental supplies to the Texas marketplace. Schein and others purportedly colluded to discourage distributors and manufacturers from working with TDA.
“Conspiring with others to prevent new distribution channels for goods and services is contrary to the free market and violates antitrust laws,” Paxton said. “Such interference should not be tolerated in the dental supply industry or any other. My office will continue to ensure that companies doing business in Texas have the opportunity to compete in a truly free market.”
Under the settlement agreement, Schein must not participate in anti-competitive activities in the future. The company will also pay $300,000 in penalties and institute additional antitrust training for employees.
Texas settled a similar lawsuit in 2015 against Benco Dental Supply Company.