Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino defended the company's ticket pricing practices during a high-stakes antitrust trial in Manhattan federal court. The case, originally brought by the Department of Justice and dozens of state attorneys general, was settled by the federal government in March after a meeting between Rapino and Omeed Assefi, the acting assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division. Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney for the states, questioned Rapino's concert pricing tactics, exclusive long-term contracts, and allegations of fostering an anticompetitive environment. Despite Kessler's questions, Rapino denied allegations that he threatened to withhold concerts at the Barclays Center after it chose a competitor over Ticketmaster.