Los Angeles is suing several major fire truck manufacturers, alleging they colluded to fix prices and rig bids on equipment the city's firefighters depend on daily.
City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto filed the antitrust lawsuit Tuesday, Sept. 15, in Los Angeles Superior Court. The suit names Terex and its affiliate REV Group, Oshkosh and its subsidiary Pierce Manufacturing, and others as defendants, along with the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association, known as FAMA.
The complaint alleges fire apparatus prices have doubled and in some cases tripled over the past decade, far outpacing inflation. Los Angeles has spent at least $180 million on fire department purchasing, maintenance and repair since 2015, according to the lawsuit.
"We allege that these companies manipulated the market for this critical equipment, forcing Angelenos to pay more and fire departments to wait longer for the trucks they need," Feldstein Soto said.
The suit accuses manufacturers of restricting supply even as demand grew, contributing to a nationwide shortage that forced fire departments to wait longer for new vehicles. FAMA allegedly maintained a database of detailed transaction data, including specific prices, and distributed that information among competing manufacturers.
Beyond antitrust and unfair competition claims, the city alleges violations of the California False Claims Act and breach of contract against companies that sold fire apparatus and repair parts directly to Los Angeles. The city seeks treble damages, restitution, civil penalties and a permanent injunction.
The litigation is being handled by the City Attorney's Public Rights Branch and outside counsel Susman Godfrey. The firm will be paid on contingency: 18% of any settlement if resolved early, up to 33% at a later stage, Reuters reported. The firm collects nothing if there is no monetary recovery.
Los Angeles is not alone.
Dozens of cities have filed similar antitrust suits since 2025. Those cases have been consolidated in a federal court in Wisconsin, where the manufacturers have asked a judge to dismiss them.
An Oshkosh spokesperson told Reuters on Sept. 10 that the cities are attempting to turn "well-documented, industry-wide challenges" into "unsubstantiated legal claims." A Terex representative pointed to prior congressional testimony from a REV Group executive who called the fire apparatus industry "complex and highly competitive."
No hearing date has been set for Case No. 26STCV28342.
