Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has joined forces with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and four other state attorneys general in a legal action against Deere & Company, commonly known as John Deere. The lawsuit accuses the agricultural equipment manufacturer of monopolizing key segments of the market and employing unfair competition methods.
"Arizona farmers deserve the right to repair their own equipment without being held hostage by a corporate monopoly," said Attorney General Mayes. "John Deere’s unlawful restrictions not only drive up costs but also create unnecessary delays that hurt Arizona’s farmers. My office is committed to fighting against practices that stifle competition and hurt farmers."
The lawsuit claims that John Deere restricts both farmers and independent repair providers from repairing its equipment, compelling them to rely solely on authorized dealers for necessary repairs. This restriction involves specialized software essential for diagnosing and fixing electronic issues, which Deere controls access to.
By restricting this access to its authorized dealers, the lawsuit argues that John Deere forces farmers into using its services, even when simpler repairs could be handled independently or by an independent repair provider offering quicker or more affordable solutions. These practices are alleged to inflate repair costs and lead to unnecessary delays for farmers.
Attorney General Mayes asserts that these actions breach the Arizona Uniform State Antitrust Act, citing violations of A.R.S. § 44-1403 along with federal law, due to Deere's maintenance and use of monopoly power over restricted repairs for large tractors and combines.
The lawsuit seeks immediate cessation of what it describes as unlawful business practices by John Deere.
Joining this legal effort alongside Attorney General Mayes are attorneys general from Michigan and Wisconsin. The FTC, Illinois, and Minnesota had initially filed the lawsuit last month.
A copy of the complaint is available below.