Two class action law firms said they reached a $20-million settlement with JBS USA regarding a pork price-fixing case with indirect buyers, Meat + Poultry reports.
The lawsuit settled with the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota alleged that the company violated federal and state consumer and antitrust laws when conspiring to fix pork prices. The settlement includes persons and entities who indirectly purchased pork from JBS and its affiliates from Jan. 1, 2009 through April 2, 2021.
In addition to financial reimbursement, the law firms said JBS agreed to cooperate in litigation with other parties in other indirect buyers’ cases, Meat + Poultry reports. Some of these companies include Clemens Foods Group, Seaboard Foods, Hormel Food Corp., Smithfield Foods Inc., Tyson Foods Inc., Triumph Foods Inc. and Agri Stats Inc.
The initial lawsuits in 2018 accused major U.S. meatpackers of collectively raising pork prices and exchanging detailed sensitive information through Agri Stats.
Read more on price-fixing cases:
JBS USA Pork Price-Fixing Lawsuit Reaches $20-Million Settlement
JBS USA Settles Third Pork Price-Fixing Lawsuit
Judge Grants Preliminary Approval for $24.5 Million Settlement in JBS Antitrust Suit
