Bloomberg reports that state attorneys general that are suing Apple for price fixing of e-books are asking $280 million in damages, and are requesting the damages be trebled, raising the possibility that Apple could face paying $840 million to the states.
The plaintiffs say they’re entitled to triple damages under antitrust law because the U.S. had already “conclusively proven” at a trial last year that Apple orchestrated a conspiracy to fix prices. The amount sought is 0.5 percent of the $158.8 billion in cash that the Cupertino, California-based company reported that it had as of the end of 2013.
The demands were made on Friday in a memorandum filed with Judge Denise Cote, the federal judge presiding over the case.
Following a nonjury trial last July, Judge Cote found that Apple had conspired with publishers to fix prices of e-books. Cote also ruled that Apple was liable to 33 states that had joined the Justice Department in its suit.
A trial will be held later this year on the damages sought by the states. Judge Cote will also preside over those proceedings.
