**Google Avoids Jury Trial in Antitrust Case with Monetary Settlement**
In a significant development from Washington, Alphabet Inc.’s Google has sidestepped a potentially groundbreaking jury trial over its digital advertising practices by agreeing to a monetary settlement, a decision handed down by a federal judge on Friday. The tech behemoth faced accusations from the U.S. Justice Department and several states, alleging Google unlawfully maintained its dominance in the digital advertising sector, consequently overcharging millions of users.
The lawsuit, which could have marked the first-ever jury trial in a civil antitrust case initiated by the Justice Department against Google, now moves forward without a jury. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, presiding in Alexandria, Virginia, ruled in favor of a bench trial, focusing on whether Google’s digital advertising empire should be dismantled to foster competition.
Google, while confirming the judge’s decision, refrained from further comments. The company has consistently denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing that its settlement does not imply an admission of liability.
The Justice Department’s initial claim exceeded $100 million in damages, but Google challenged this figure, arguing the government could not substantiate damages beyond $1 million. In a strategic move, Google issued a check for the disputed amount, though the final sum remains undisclosed. This maneuver sparked debate, with Google accusing the government of inflating the damages claim to secure a jury trial, which typically handles monetary disputes in antitrust cases.
The government, on its part, signaled openness to resolving the monetary aspect of the lawsuit, contingent on a larger settlement from Google. “Google has fought hard to keep its anticompetitive conduct shielded from public view,” stated the government in a court filing last month, highlighting the stakes involved in exposing the tech giant’s practices.
As the case proceeds to a non-jury trial, the focus intensifies on the broader implications for Google’s business model and the digital advertising landscape at large. With the Justice Department declining to comment on the latest ruling, the tech community and consumers alike await further developments in this landmark antitrust battle.