U.S. District Judge Mary S. McElroy has ruled against two motions made by American Express regarding a federal antitrust lawsuit brought on behalf of more than 5,000 merchants by 5-Star General Store, a convenience store in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The suit (5-Star General Store v. American Express Co., U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, Case No. 1:24-cv-00106) alleges that American Express had violated antitrust law by prohibiting businesses from encouraging customers to use payment cards that have lower transaction fees. Amex argued that the merchants should be required...