Six chicken processors — George’s, Mar-Jac, Fieldale, Peco, Pilgrim’s, and Tyson — have reached a $181 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over alleged broiler chicken price-fixing.
End-User Consumer Plaintiffs allege that Defendants and their co-conspirators conspired to restrict the supply of, and fix, raise, and stabilize the price of chicken, as of January 1, 2009, in violation of federal and state consumer and antitrust laws.
Who’s Eligible
All persons and entities who indirectly purchased fresh or frozen raw chicken (defined as whole birds (with or without giblets), whole cut-up birds purchased within a package, or “white meat” parts including breasts and wings (or cuts containing a combination of these), but excluding chicken that is marketed as halal, kosher, free-range, or organic) from Defendants or alleged co-conspirators for personal consumption, where the person or entity purchased in California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island (after July 15, 2013), South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin from January 1, 2009 (except for Rhode Island, which is from July 15, 2013), to July 31, 2019.
The Pilgrim’s Settlement covers claims for the period of January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2020. You are eligible to recover money if you purchased whole chicken, chicken breasts, or wings while a resident of one of the following states: California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. These states allow for standing of End-User Consumers, the class alleged here. Governmental and public entities are not included in the Settlement Class and are not eligible Settlement Class Members.
Potential Award
Varies – If the Settlements are approved, Tyson will pay $99,000,000, Pilgrim’s will pay $75,500,000, George’s will pay $1,900,000, Peco will pay $1,900,000, Fieldale will pay $1,700,000, and Mar-Jac will pay $1,000,000. These Settlements would resolve all Settlement Class members’ claims against the Settling Defendants for the Released Claims (as defined in the Settlement Agreements). In addition to this monetary benefit, Settling Defendants have also agreed to provide specified cooperation (as set forth in the Settlement Agreements) in the End-User Consumer Plaintiffs’ continued prosecution of the litigation.
All Settlement funds that remain after payment of the Court-ordered attorneys’ fees, costs, and litigation expenses will be distributed to Settlement Class members on a pro-rata basis at the conclusion of the lawsuit or as ordered by the Court.
Claim Form Deadline:
December 31, 2022