Turkey Antitrust Litigation
SUMMARY
In December 2019, Lockridge Grindal Nauen filed an antitrust class action on behalf of our clients alleging that the nation’s largest turkey producers colluded to restraint turkey production, knowing that such an artificial supply restriction would lead to higher prices. On October 19, 2020, Judge Virginia M. Kendall of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois denied all but one defendant’s motions to dismiss the complaint, and upheld the allegations in our complaint. Now we will move forward with discovery from the defendants to prove our allegations and support our upcoming motion for class certification.
Background
The turkey producers named as defendants in this case are Butterball LLC, Cargill, Inc., Cargill Meat Solutions Corp., Cooper Farms, Inc., Farbest Foods, Inc., Hormel Foods Corp., Hormel Foods, LLC, House of Raeford Farms, Inc., Kraft Heinz Foods Company, Kraft Foods Brands, LLC, Perdue Farms, Inc., Perdue Foods, LLC, Tyson Foods, Inc., Hillshire Brands Company, Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., and Tyson Prepared Foods, Inc.
Plaintiffs allege that beginning no later than 2010, turkey producers acted together to artificially reduce the supply of turkey for sale in the United States, knowing that a reduced supply would increase prices. Defendants coordinated their supply reductions by sharing confidential production information with one another through Agri Stats, an information sharing service. As a result, from at least 2010 to 2017, turkey prices were artificially inflated. On June 16, 2020, Judge Virginia M. Kendall appointed Lockridge Grindal Nauen as interim co-lead counsel in this matter. Judge Kendall dismissed Kraft Foods from the action in her October 19, 2020 order, but the case will proceed against all other defendants.
Were you affected by the alleged turkey conspiracy?
If you purchased turkey between 2010 and 2017 from any of the above companies or their subsidiaries, you may have overpaid.
CONTACT
If you would like to discuss your legal options, please contact Joe Bruckner or Brian Clark at wjbruckner@locklaw.com, bdclark@locklaw.com, or at 612-339-6900.
ARTICLES & DOCUMENTS
10-19-2020
Order Denying in Part and Granting in Part Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss
12-19-2019
Complaint – Olean Wholesale v Agri Stats
12-20-2019
Article – Lawsuit alleges turkey companies conspired to keep prices high | FERN’s Ag Insider