By G.W. Schulz
In a short decision released just hours ago, federal judge Susan Illston granted Clint Reilly’s request to enjoin the Hearst Corp. and MediaNews Group from discussing any cooperative agreements until Reilly’s antitrust complaint against the two companies and other business partners goes to trial next April.
Reilly and his attorney, Joe Alioto, had requested the preliminary injunction (after the first request was denied because a $300 million Hearst investment in MediaNews stock had not yet technically been consummated) arguing that the defendants had withheld from the court a letter outlining how the two companies might be able to share delivery trucks and advertising efforts, discussions that Reilly believed threatened antitrust rules.