Communications services companies slipped.

Ohio's attorney general filed a lawsuit asking a judge to rule that Google should be treated like a public utility. The case adds to the legal woes confronting the Alphabet subsidiary, which also faces antitrust lawsuits from the Justice Department and a separate consortium of states led by Colorado and Texas.

Ohio said that it is the first state in the country to bring a lawsuit seeking a court declaration that Google is a common carrier subject under state law to government regulation.

The lawsuit, which doesn't seek monetary damages, says that Google has a duty to provide the same rights for advertisements and product placement for competitors as it provides for its own services.

"This lawsuit has no basis in fact or law and we'll defend ourselves against it in court," a Google spokesman said.

Transcription and captioning platform Verbit has notched a valuation of more than $1 billion in its latest financing as it gears up for a public listing as soon as next year.

Write to Amy Pessetto at amy.pessetto@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

06-08-21 1707ET