Starbucks Corp.

A lawsuit has been filed and is seeking class action against the Seattle based coffee giant. The lawsuit was filed in US District Court in Seattle and alleges Starbucks violated the Sherman Act, which outlaws the monopoly of interstate commerce. The case claims Starbucks kept smaller stores out of prime real estate locations in Seattle and Bellevue by paying above-market rent for its space in exchange for having landlords keep competitors out of those buildings. Small coffee businesses are also claiming Starbucks employees distribute free samples in front of their shops to lure customers away.