Nov 3 (Reuters) - Oshkosh and two other fire

truck manufacturers are facing a growing number of lawsuits

alleging they took part in a nationwide price-fixing scheme that

caused local and municipal fire departments to pay inflated

prices for emergency vehicles.

Newstead Fire Company, based in western New York, lodged the

latest case on Friday in federal court in Wisconsin, where two

other proposed class actions are already pending.

The first of the cases was filed in August by the City of La

Crosse, Wisconsin. Augusta, Maine, also has sued Oshkosh and

others, including REV Group ( REVG ), Rosenbauer America and

Oshkosh subsidiary Pierce Manufacturing.

A judge on Friday paused the litigation for 60 days to allow

coordination among the various plaintiffs. Additional lawsuits

are expected, according to court filings.

REV Group ( REVG ), in a statement, called the lawsuits meritless and

said it would challenge the allegations in court. Oshkosh,

Rosenbauer and the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association,

which is also a defendant, did not immediately respond to

requests for comment.

The lawsuits allege that since at least 2016, the companies

violated antitrust law by coordinating with the manufacturers'

association to exchange sensitive economic data, limit

production and raise prices.

The plaintiffs said in the cases that fire truck prices have

doubled over the past decade, with average pumper trucks now

costing $1 million and ladder trucks topping $2 million.

Municipalities, according to the lawsuits, have been forced

to keep aging trucks in service longer, risking public safety

and straining budgets.

The three lawsuits seek triple damages and a court order to

halt the alleged antitrust violations.

In April, Republican Senator Jim Banks of Indiana and Democratic

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said consolidation in

the fire truck market led by private equity firms has driven up

costs and contributed to a nationwide shortage.

The senators pointed to a series of acquisitions of

independent fire truck makers by private equity firm American

Industrial Partners beginning in 2006. The firm, which is not a

defendant in the lawsuits, had no immediate comment.

In May, the largest firefighters' labor union in the United

States urged antitrust authorities at the U.S. Justice

Department and Federal Trade Commission to investigate

consolidation in the industry.

The trade agency and Justice Department didn't immediately

respond to requests for comment.

Read more:

As fire truck prices hit $2 million, US firefighters demand

an antitrust probe

Fire truck boom highlights divide in US manufacturing