Plaintiff attorneys said Waste Management and Castaway Trash Hauling conspired to merge and form a monopoly months before the Reno City Council approved an agreement in late 2012 with both entities.

“This court can find no evidence to support that characterization,” Flanagan said after hearing attorney arguments.

Waste Management’s acquisition of Castaway was finalized less than a year later. Some then-city staff and council members were reportedly unaware of the planned takeover when the contract was voted on.