Michigan Sues to Dismantle Alleged Mackinac Island Ferry Monopoly
State prosecutors in Michigan have filed a lawsuit to break up what they describe as a transportation monopoly controlling ferry services and mainland parking for Mackinac Island. The lawsuit, filed in Ingham County Circuit Court by the Michigan Attorney General's office, targets the Florida-based Hoffmann Family of Companies and its affiliates. The state alleges that the firm acquired its competitors to eliminate market competition, subsequently raising round-trip ferry fares by $3, adding unapproved convenience fees, and increasing mainland parking rates. Specifically, daily parking rates reportedly rose from free to as much as $15 per day, and standard overnight parking increased by 25%. The lawsuit includes three counts: agreement in restraint of trade, monopolization, and unjust enrichment. State officials claim that when local leaders attempted to regulate these rising prices, the company responded by filing a federal lawsuit and threatening to cease all ferry operations. Mackinac Island, where cars ...