Nevada, 3 other states join suit to stop $26.5B Sprint-T-Mobile deal

NEW YORK (AP) — Nevada, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Minnesota are joining the legal fight against T-Mobile's $26.5 billion bid for Sprint in a case that may reach trial in October.

A lawyer for state attorneys general revealed the additional states at a New York court hearing Friday.

Nine other states and the District of Columbia sued to block the merger this month, saying it will reduce competition and damage consumers.

A lawyer for T-Mobile told a judge Friday that the deal will improve competition by combining two smaller companies, enabling them to compete more effectively against bigger players.

Both sides recommended an Oct. 7 trial date.

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero did not agree to the date yet, saying any trial date will depend in part on whether the Justice Department joins the states.