Paramount Antitrust Case Shifts to Judge Martinez-Olguin Ahead of $110 Billion Merger Hearing
Updated
Updated · Deadline · Jul 16
Paramount Antitrust Case Shifts to Judge Martinez-Olguin Ahead of $110 Billion Merger Hearing
3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Jul 16
Summary
Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin has been assigned the states' federal antitrust case seeking to block Paramount's merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, with a temporary restraining order hearing still set for Friday.
Paramount had moved Wednesday to remove Judge P. Casey Pitts, arguing his past legal work for the Writers Guild of America created an appearance of bias because the WGA separately sued Tuesday to stop the deal.
The company had also asked that the case go to Martinez-Olguin because she is already handling a related consumer lawsuit filed in April, and court filings had signaled the matters were connected.
The reassignment adds to mounting legal pressure on the proposed $110 billion transaction, which Paramount has been aiming to close in the third quarter; a shareholder also sued the Ellisons and the board in Delaware on Wednesday.