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1 Feline Fearless Leader  Tue, Apr 9, 2013 10:43:00am

en.wikipedia.org

Arguing about bridge rights and tolls seems to be part of being America.

2 EiMitch  Tue, Apr 9, 2013 11:31:22am
In the lawsuit, the Detroit International Bridge Co., the family business controlled by Manuel (Matty) Moroun that owns the 84-year-old Ambassador Bridge, claims a “perpetual and exclusive franchise right” to operate the crossing free of competition from another span.

(emphasis added)

I hope they counter with an antitrust suit. I’d lmao if it happened to that unashamed monopolist.

Come to think about it, there are more than a few corporations that ought to face such a suit.

3 lawhawk  Tue, Apr 9, 2013 1:18:12pm

It wouldn’t be the first time that the Ambassador Bridge has gone all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court upheld a tax imposed against the bridge. The Bridge company claimed that they were engaged in interstate commerce and the toll was unconstitutional.

I actually find the reasoning of the Court flawed here - it is interstate commerce, but they do trace back some of the history of the Bridge Corporation’s charter:

To operate the highway bridge, known as the Ambassador Bridge, across the Detroit River from Detroit, Michigan, to Sandwich, Province of Ontario, Canada, and the approaches and the appurtenances thereto, and to own all or part of said bridge and approaches and appurtenances thereto.

‘To maintain and operate said bridge and approaches and appurtenances thereto for the use of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and to charge and collect tolls for such use.’

That’s from the charter as amended prior to tax year 1933.

4 Vicious Babushka  Tue, Apr 9, 2013 3:18:00pm

re: #3 lawhawk

It wouldn’t be the first time that the Ambassador Bridge has gone all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court upheld a tax imposed against the bridge. The Bridge company claimed that they were engaged in interstate commerce and the toll was unconstitutional.

I actually find the reasoning of the Court flawed here - it is interstate commerce, but they do trace back some of the history of the Bridge Corporation’s charter:

That’s from the charter as amended prior to tax year 1933.

Matty Moroun collects and keeps all the tolls for the bridge, and also keeps all the revenue from the Duty Free store (including Duty Free gasoline), which is marked up so that the prices are about the same you would pay at a retail store. But he doesn’t keep any of his part of the bargain which is to maintain the bridge and the freeway on-ramps.

5 Vicious Babushka  Tue, Apr 9, 2013 3:18:37pm

Also HE DIDN’T BUILD THAT. He bought it as part of an investment package in the ‘90’s.

6 Aligarr  Tue, Apr 9, 2013 4:26:50pm

Is there any legal document which prohibits the building of another bridge , or has this guy got exclusive and perpetual rights before any bridges over the Detroit River , which may compete?

7 majii  Tue, Apr 9, 2013 4:38:44pm

I just love seeing these so-called strong believers in the free market system trying to quash competition—a key feature of any real market economy.


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