California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday released unsealed court documents that provide new details into a long-standing antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.com Inc. The 19-page filing, made public on April 20, 2026, in San Francisco Superior Court, alleges that the e-commerce giant engaged in a sophisticated price-fixing scheme by coercing major brands to inflate their retail prices on competing platforms such as Walmart and Target. The documents include internal emails and testimonies that the Attorney General’s office claims prove Amazon used its market dominance to stifle competition and keep consumer prices artificially high.
One central piece of evidence involves a 2023 exchange between Amazon and Levi Strauss & Co. regarding the pricing of Easy Khaki Classic pants. According to the filing, Amazon sought to sell the item for $29.99 but found that Walmart had lowered its price to between $25.47 and $26.99. Amazon reportedly contacted Levi’s to express concern over the discrepancy, asking the apparel company to convince Walmart to raise its price. The documents show that a Levi’s employee later emailed Amazon to confirm that Walmart had partnered with them to return the price to $29.99, allowing Amazon to match the higher price and maintain its profit margins. The filing suggests this was one of approximately a dozen similar examples identified by investigators.
The Attorney General’s office outlined three distinct methods Amazon allegedly used to control market pricing. First, Amazon coerced vendors to act as intermediaries to pressure other retailers into raising prices. Second, Amazon would directly increase its own prices and then demand that vendors ensure competitors matched those higher levels. Third, if a competitor refused to raise prices, Amazon allegedly forced vendors to remove their products from that competitor’s site entirely, allowing Amazon to raise its price without being undercut. This practice reportedly extended to various sectors, including home decor, garden products, and pet care. In one instance, the scheme allegedly raised prices for more than 10 different pet treats sold on the website of Chewy Pet Food & Supplies.
Vendors who failed to comply with these demands faced significant penalties. The documents suggest Amazon threatened to suppress products in search results, restrict advertising capabilities, or remove the Buy Box feature, which is critical for driving sales on the platform. Attorney General Bonta stated that these practices were neither subtle nor complex, characterizing them as a clear violation of California’s antitrust and unfair competition laws. He noted that the scheme forced consumers to pay more for everyday products during a period of heightened affordability concerns.
Amazon, which reported global sales of $717 billion last year, has denied the allegations, calling the claims entirely false and misguided. In a statement released Monday, the company argued that it is consistently recognized as a low-price leader and that the Attorney General’s legal action ironically seeks to force Amazon to feature higher prices. The company maintained that its policies are designed to protect the customer experience and ensure competitive pricing. Levi Strauss & Co. did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the release of the unredacted documents. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in January 2027, though a hearing for a preliminary injunction is set for July 23, 2026.