Finland Times

The court took the view that the cartel had operated regionally since 1994, and nationally at least from 1997 to March 2002.

According to the district court, the state would not receive compensation, because, according to the court, the state approved the operations, participated in the cartel, and benefited from it.

The Appellate Court, however, held that the Public Roads Administration was not aware of the cartel, in which some of its employees participated. The state, therefore, did not approve the operations and should receive compensation.

The Helsinki District Court and the Helsinki Appellate Court case involved 39 municipalities and the state suing for compensation.

The compensation ordered by the Appellate Court is lower than that of the District Court. The District Court ordered the cartel to pay 40 million euros in damages.