The FTC instituted proceedings against the Soft Drink Bottling Company, alleging violations of laws prohibiting unfair methods of competition. The complaint against Soft Drink Bottling challenged the...

The FTC instituted proceedings against the Soft Drink Bottling Company, alleging violations of laws prohibiting unfair methods of competition. The complaint against Soft Drink Bottling challenged the validity of exclusive bottling agreements between the company and franchised bottlers, who had to agree not to sell the company’s products outside a designated territory. Soft Drink Bottling asked the FTC to include the 513 bottlers in the case. The FTC refused to do so on the ground that inclusion of so many bottlers would make the case unmanageable—although it said that any bottlers who wished to could intervene in the case. Soft Drink Bottling decided to appeal the decision to a federal court. Did the court entertain the action?