States are developing antitrust forces to put pressure on big business

Prosecutors taking on tech giants and other industry titans are swelling their ranks as state attorneys general across the board become more comfortable using antitrust laws against big business.

California is expanding its nation-leading team, adding eight new antitrust associates in June and intends to hire more in the coming months. Last week, it joined the Justice Department and about 30 states in filing a lawsuit to split Ticketmaster and Live Nation.

States want industry – both local and national – to be notified, New Jersey Attorney General Mathew J. Platkin (n) said in an interview. This includes his state’s control over pharmaceutical giants, as well as…