DOJ, AT&T Name Lead Expert Witnesses in Antitrust Trial

Two former deputy assistant attorneys general for economic analysis at DOJ's Antitrust Division will be lead economics expert witnesses, on opposing sides, for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia trial on the agency's attempt to block AT&T buying Time Warner. DOJ counsel Craig Conrath told U.S. District Judge Richard Leon Friday during a biweekly status hearing on the impending trial that University of California, Berkeley economics professor Carl Shapiro will be lead economics expert witness for DOJ. Conrath said Justice potentially had two other expert witnesses to testify about regulatory issues. AT&T outside counsel Daniel Petrocelli of O'Melveny said the lead economics expert for the defense will be University of Chicago economics professor Dennis Carlton, and it has potentially three other expert witnesses to discuss advertising, media and entertainment and business efficiency issues. Petrocelli said there's a cap of 30 fact witnesses each for the two sides, but it's unlikely either side will call more than half that. Leon urged the two sides to give him a heads up about potential conflicts over evidence admissibility, so as to avoid numerous or protracted objections that could make the trial disjointed or delay a final ruling. The trial -- expected to run two to three weeks -- is to start March 19 (see 1712070067).