However, the two companies conspired to drive log prices down, put smaller logging operations out of business, and were major and recalcitrant polluters in their local areas.

Dr. Schwartz has long argued that the key component of the system is flawed and that the company and the government have conspired to cover up its problems.

Allegations in a lawsuit that the companies conspired to fix cigarette prices sent the stocks lower.

The jury also found that the company had conspired with Dow Corning and that it had intentionally made misleading statements about silicone's safety.

The settlement covers 66 patients at psychiatric hospitals in Texas who said the company conspired to hold them against their will.

The State alleged that the six companies had conspired to increase prices at the expense of taxpayers.

Price-fixing occurs when companies combine or conspire to raise, lower or stabilize prices.

There is little difficulty when the claim is that the company either conspired with a second company or with at least two natural persons.

It is also investigating whether the companies conspired to suppress information and defraud the Government, and whether industry lawyers suppressed possibly damaging research.

It makes a strong case that companies have conspired for decades to hide information and to thwart government regulation with multimillion-dollar lobbying.