Opinion ID: 779790
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Competitive Bidding Process Exception

Text: 38 Noerr immunity is not lost because competitive bids were involved. Corrupt bidding can fall under the sham exception to Noerr but only if corrupt. 39 AFB relies on three bidding cases. Allied Tube & Conduit Corp. v. Indian Head, Inc., 486 U.S. 492, 509, 108 S.Ct. 1931, 100 L.Ed.2d 497 (1988) (finding efforts to influence the setting of private standards that were routinely adopted by state and local governments did not qualify for Noerr immunity when the defendant's activities were a sham intending only to control the standards promulgated by a private trade association); F. Buddie Contracting, Inc. v. Seawright, 595 F.Supp. 422 (N.D.Ohio 1984) (holding that Noerr immunity did not apply because of the defendant's improper relationship with a city consultant who disqualified the plaintiff's bid); George R. Whitten, Jr., Inc. v. Paddock Pool Builders, Inc., 424 F.2d 25, 33 (1st Cir.1970) (stating that statutes requiring competitive bidding required the defendant to refrain from dealing with officials who administer the bid statutes). 40 These cases do not create a discrete competitive bid exception to Noerr. Competitive bidders are free to lobby the relevant government, but they cannot do so by corrupting the bid process. The above cases reaffirm that lobbying efforts involving competitive proposals can be a sham if other evidence indicates that corrupt or questionable practices are initiated by a competitor directly involved with the bidding process. RFA was not a competitor. Allegations that it received financial benefits from recreational fishing tournaments and receives funding through a boat company that caters to sport fishermen do not overcome Noerr immunity.