New York Attorney General Letitia James has secured a legal victory against Intermountain Management, a ski resort owner accused of monopolistic practices in the Syracuse market. The court found that Intermountain violated New York's antitrust law by purchasing and shutting down Toggenburg Mountain, its main competitor.
In October 2022, Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against Intermountain. She alleged that the company had created a monopoly, leading to higher prices and overcrowded facilities for skiers due to reduced competition. The suit also claimed that Intermountain's "no-poach" provision was anticompetitive and illegal.
Attorney General James stated, "Syracuse skiing families and workers long benefited from fierce competition among their local ski mountains, but this experience went downhill fast after Intermountain bought Toggenburg." She added that the company's actions were designed to raise prices and increase profits through monopolistic practices.
Intermountain operates Labrador and Song Mountains in the Syracuse area. In 2021, it acquired Toggenburg Mountain and immediately closed it. The company announced plans to prevent future buyers from using Toggenburg as a ski resort through deed restrictions. Additionally, it entered into an agreement with Toggenburg's sellers prohibiting them from competing within a 30-mile radius for five years.
The court ruled in favor of the Office of the Attorney General’s motion for summary judgment. Judge Robert E. Antonacci II determined that Intermountain's acquisition constituted an illegal market allocation agreement under New York law. The judge found no valid justification for the "no-poach" agreement and stated it was intended to suppress competition.
The case was managed by Deputy Bureau Chief Amy McFarlane, Senior Enforcement Counsel Bryan Bloom, Assistant Attorney General Ben Cole, Legal Assistants Arlene Leventhal and Chelle Velez under Bureau Chief Elinor Hoffmann of the Antitrust Bureau. Data Scientist Kenneth Morales provided data analysis support. The Antitrust Bureau is part of the Division for Economic Justice overseen by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris D'Angelo and First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
Further proceedings will determine remedies for Intermountain’s conduct.