About: Lorain Journal Co. v. United States

Lorain Journal Co. v. United States, 342 U.S. 143 (1951), is a decision of the United States Supreme Court often cited as an example of a monopolization violation being based on unilateral denial of access to an essential facility, although it in fact involved concerted action. When the Lorain Journal's monopoly over advertising in the Lorain, Ohio area was threatened by the establishment of a competing radio station, the Journal's publisher refused to accept advertising from those who advertised over the radio station and required them to advertise only in the Journal. The purpose of the publisher was to eliminate the competition of the radio station. The Supreme Court held that the publisher had attempted to monopolize trade and commerce, in violation of § 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act,