Montana § 30-14-901 - Discrimination In Price

§ 30-14-901. Discrimination In Price

Discrimination in price. (1) It is unlawful for a business to discriminate, directly or indirectly, in the price charged to different purchasers of commodities of like grade and quality if the effect of the discrimination upon other businesses or customers is to substantially lessen competition, to create a monopoly in any line of commerce, or to injure, destroy, or prevent competition with any business that grants or knowingly receives the benefit of the discrimination. (2) This section does not prohibit: (a) price differentials that make due allowance for the costs of manufacture, sale, or delivery resulting from the differing methods or quantities in which the commodities are sold or delivered to the purchasers; (b) businesses engaged in selling commodities from selecting their own customers in bona fide transactions and not in restraint of trade; or (c) price changes from time to time made in response to changing conditions affecting the market for, or the marketability of, the commodities, including but not limited to actual or imminent deterioration of perishable goods, obsolescence of seasoned goods, distress sales under court process, or sales in good faith in discontinuance of business in the goods concerned. (3) It is unlawful for a business to discriminate in favor of one purchaser against another purchaser of a processed or unprocessed commodity bought for resale by contracting to furnish, by furnishing, or by contributing to the furnishing of any service or facility connected with the processing, handling, sale, or offering for sale of the commodity purchased upon terms not accorded to all purchasers on proportionally equal terms. (4) It is unlawful for a business to knowingly induce or receive a discrimination in price that is prohibited by this section. (5) This section does not apply to industry members regulated by Title 16, chapters 1 through 4 and 6.