The law firm Berger Montague recently obtained a $100 million settlement with major chicken processor, Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., acting on behalf of a number of chicken farmers or “growers” in an antitrust alleging that the processing companies conspired to suppress the pay of chicken growers.
The settlement follows $69 million in settlements with four other major chicken processors: Tyson, Sanderson Farms, Koch Foods, and Perdue. The plaintiffs alleged that these companies conspired to suppress the grower’s pay by illegally sharing confidential grower compensation data and illegally conspiring not to recruit each other’s growers.
“This is a great outcome for these chicken farmers,” said Eric L. Cramer, Chairperson of Berger Montague. “We believe this is the largest payment ever obtained from the chicken processors on behalf of growers,” added Daniel Walker, a Shareholder in the firm’s Antitrust Practice Area.
The plaintiffs were preparing for trial when they settled with the last defendant last month.
For more information on the litigation, click here: In Re: Broiler Chicken Grower Antitrust Litigation Settlement (bergermontague.com)