federal trade commission

September 1, 2021 - The same North Carolina law firm that successfully took on Smithfield Foods' hog farm pollution is now representing a group of plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit against Tennessee-based hospital company HCA, owner of Asheville's Mission Health System. The suit — which claims the company has monopolized the regional health care market in a way that's hurting patients and caregivers — comes amid heightened scrutiny of health care monopolies.

October 23, 2019 - Officials in Tennessee and Virginia allowed a hospital monopoly to form on the borders of their states, promising that any negative effects would be counteracted by state regulation. But is that realistic?

September 17, 2014 - Dollar Tree of Virginia and Dollar General of Tennessee are battling to take over North Carolina-based Family Dollar -- but the takeover fight isn't the most interesting part of this story, which also involves sleeping anti-trust watchdogs, wage theft and other exploitative labor practices, and a business model that profits from economic desperation.