Addressing what he said was an unsettled question on pre-emption, a federal judge in New Jersey has rejected a move by a conglomeration of the world’s largest international container carriers—facing a price-fixing lawsuit by Mercedes-Benz USA—to have the lawsuit heard in federal court rather than state court.

U.S. District Judge Stanley Chesler on Wednesday rejected pre-emption claims and ordered that the lawsuit, filed by Mercedes against the group of defendants—Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, K Line America, Matsui O.S.K., Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistcs AS and Kawasaki Kaisha Ltd.—be moved back to Bergen County Superior Court, where it was originally filed.