Amanda Forrester / news@whmi.com

A New Jersey district court ruled an antitrust lawsuit against Apple can move forward.

The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey recently denied the company’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which was filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and 16 state attorneys general, including Dana Nessel.

“The lawsuit, filed in March 2024, alleges that Apple illegally maintains a monopoly over smartphones by selectively imposing contractual restrictions on, and withholding critical access points from, developers,” a press release from Nessel said.

The Court ruled the state attorneys general, independent of the federal government, may sue companies whose "anticompetitive conduct harms the well-being of its residents.” It also ruled that facts alleged in the lawsuit do support the coalition’s argument that Apple engaged in such behavior with the “intent and substantial likelihood of monopolizing the market.”

“Mega corporations cannot be allowed to dictate the rules of the digital marketplace at the expense of their customers,” Nessel said. “I am pleased the Court has allowed this case to proceed, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to protect customers and promote fair competition.”

The other attorney generals are from Arizona, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin.