Supreme Court Says State Not Bound by Statute of Limitations

SPOKANE (AP) — The state Supreme Court has ruled that Washington is not bound of a statute of limitations in filing an antitrust lawsuit against numerous foreign electronics manufacturers.

The 7-2 ruling Thursday affirmed a lower court decision.

The state in 2012 sued the electronics companies, contending that between 1995 through at least 2007, the defendants engaged in price-fixing on cathode ray tubes, which dominated television and computer screens before the advent of LCD and other newer technology.

Ten of the defendants filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the state's Consumer Protection Act required that actions for damages must be filed within four years.

The state argued that the statute of limitations did not apply.

Thursday's ruling sent the case back to the trial court for resolution.