Perdue and Sanderson Settle in Chicken Price-Fixing Cases
Perdue Farms Inc., Sanderson, and other chicken suppliers agree to settle claims of conspiring to fix poultry prices, impacting food distributors.
Settlement Agreements Await Court Approval
Plaintiffs’ lawyers representing direct purchasers of chicken announce plans to seek preliminary approval for the settlements from a Chicago federal judge.
Terms and Response from Companies
Details of the settlements remain undisclosed. Perdue and Sanderson, along with other defendants, have denied any wrongdoing. Perdue is yet to respond to requests for comment.
Legal Battles and Preceding Rulings
Perdue and other defendants previously secured a pre-trial ruling, dismissing claims against them. Sanderson, now part of Wayne-Sanderson, emerged victorious in the first trial of the chicken price-fixing litigation.
Allegations of Price Manipulation
Plaintiffs accuse the defendants of keeping chicken prices artificially high by limiting production and sharing confidential data on supply and demand.
Previous Settlements and Denial of Liability
Prior settlements with other chicken producers totaled over $284 million. Companies like Tyson and Pilgrim’s Pride settled for significant amounts, while denying liability.
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