TOPEKA – (May 22, 2013) – Kansas consumers who have purchased e-books may be entitled to credits or refunds from two publishers following the partial resolution of a multistate antitrust investigation, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said today.
Kansas, along with 32 other states and territories and class action counsel, has reached agreements with Penguin Group (USA), Inc., and Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC, d/b/a Macmillan to settle allegations that Penguin and Macmillan colluded with other major publishers and Apple, Inc., to manipulate prices in the e-book market.
“Consumers have the right to a fair price, set by the marketplace, for products they purchase,” Schmidt said. “Our office is dedicated to ensuring a fair and competitive marketplace where prices are determined by supply and demand, not by price fixing.”
The agreements with Penguin and Macmillan must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. When finalized, the agreements will grant e-book outlets greater freedom to reduce the prices of their e-book titles.
Eligible consumers will be contacted and offered refunds or customer credits to compensate for over-charges on previous e-book purchases. Consumers nationwide will receive $75 million in compensation from Penguin, and $20 million from Macmillan.
Kansas has previously settled with three other publishers – Hachette Book Group, Inc., HarperCollins Publishers, L.L.C., and Simon & Schuster, Inc. – for allegations relating to the same conduct. Consumers nationwide will receive another $70 million in compensation as a result of the settlements with those publishers.
The Kansas antitrust action based on the same allegations against Apple, Inc., remains pending with trial scheduled in June.
Devon Andrew Simmons, 27, Neodesha, was sentenced to 93 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections by District Court Judge David W. Rogers in Wilson County District Court. The sentence included 93 months for attempted second degree murder and 11 months for possession of methamphetamine. Rogers ordered the sentences to run concurrently. Simmons pleaded no contest to the charges in February 2012.
Rogers also sentenced Brandon Bryce Beisly, 31, Newton, to 72 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. The sentence included 72 months for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and 8 months for criminal possession of a firearm. Rogers ordered the sentences to run concurrently. Beisly pleaded guilty to the charges in March 2012.
KINGMAN – (June 11, 2013) – A Kingman County jury today found Brett Seacat, 37, of Kingman, guilty of first degree, premeditated murder, aggravated arson, and two counts of aggravated child endangerment after a three-week trial, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said.
OBERLIN – (June 17, 2013) – An Oberlin man was sentenced today to more than 17 years in prison after being convicted of murder, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said.
PARSONS – (July 1, 2013) – A Parsons man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for the crime of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said.