Lucasys Secures $24M Settlement from PowerPlan, Ending Antitrust Lawsuit
January 30, 2025
La Jolla, Calif., Jan. 30, 2025—Bona Law is pleased to announce a significant victory for its client, Lucasys, Inc., in a long-running antitrust battle against PowerPlan, Inc., a subsidiary of Roper Technologies. After over four years of litigation, the parties have reached a settlement under which PowerPlan will pay $24 million to Lucasys. The settlement also ensures that PowerPlan will not interfere with customers who choose to work with Lucasys.
The settlement concludes a high-stakes lawsuit in which Lucasys alleged PowerPlan leveraged its monopoly power in the utility software market to stifle competition. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in 2020.
Background of the Dispute
Lucasys, founded in 2018 by three former PowerPlan employees, sought to challenge PowerPlan’s dominance in utility management software. PowerPlan controlled approximately 99% of the market following its acquisition of its only significant competitor in the late 2000s. Lucasys alleged that PowerPlan used anticompetitive tactics to maintain its monopoly, including threatening prospective Lucasys customers with litigation.
Lucasys further claimed that PowerPlan’s behavior forced customers to pay supracompetitive prices for a substandard product. Bona Law supported Lucasys throughout the litigation, securing pivotal rulings along the way.
Procedural Milestones
In 2022, Lucasys overcame PowerPlan’s counterclaims, which alleged theft of trade secrets by Lucasys’ founders. U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg dismissed PowerPlan’s claims, finding they lacked evidence that Lucasys improperly obtained or used proprietary information.
In January 2023, Lucasys moved for summary judgment on its affirmative antitrust claims, an uncommon step in cases that do not involve price-fixing. Bona Law and its co-counsel successfully argued that the evidence of PowerPlan’s anticompetitive conduct was overwhelming. This bold move further strengthened Lucasys’ position, ultimately leading to the settlement.
Terms of the Settlement
Under the terms of the agreement, finalized on January 3, 2025, PowerPlan admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to pay Lucasys $24 million in monetary compensation. The settlement also prohibits PowerPlan from retaliating against or discriminating against customers who choose Lucasys’ software solutions.
Implications for the Market
This settlement marks a significant win for customers in the utility software market. As Lucasys emphasized in the case, PowerPlan’s dominance had stifled innovation for years, leaving utility customers with outdated solutions. By successfully challenging these practices, Lucasys has opened the market to superior products and services.
About Bona Law
Bona Law represents businesses across industries in antitrust, competition, and complex commercial litigation. With this latest victory, Bona Law continues to establish itself as a leader in solving antitrust problems for businesses of all kinds.