This rather lengthy piece will be of primary interest to the business-law-minded of you. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act went into affect in 1890, and just a couple years later the Sugar Trust Case came before the Supreme Court, in which The American Sugar Refining Company defended itself against accusations of monopolistic practices for controlling almost all the sugar production in the United States. The issue in this case was whether or not a company can really have a monopoly on manufacturing a product, as opposed to distribution. Nearly 20 years after the Sherman Act passed, the Times Magazine enlisted Victor Morawetz, an expert on anti-trust law, to discuss how the Act has been interpreted and effected business. He uses the Sugar Trust Case and others as examples.

And if you’re really, really business-law-minded, you might enjoy reading the complete Sugar Trust Case decision.

THE SUPREME COURT AND THE ANTI-TRUST ACT: Victor Morawetz Discusses the Interpretation and Effect of the Sherman Law — The Sugar Trust Case. (PDF)

From October 9, 1910