3rd Circuit Dockets Smart Communications' Antitrust Appeal

The 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Monday docketed the appeal (docket 1:20-cv-00186) of Smart Communications that seeks to vacate the Nov. 1 memorandum of U.S. District Judge Jennifer Wilson for Middle Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, granting the motions of Global Tel-Link (GTL) and other defendants to dismiss Smart's antitrust complaint. Smart alleged competitor GTL colluded with the York County, Pennsylvania, prison and its warden, Adam Ogle, in an unlawful "exclusive dealing" arrangement when Smart tried to replace GTL as the prison's vendor for inmate calling services. The prison and Ogle were named as GTL's co-defendants. The case was listed for possible dismissal due to a “jurisdictional defect,” said the 3rd Circuit clerk in an order Monday.