Sanderson Farms is about to go to trial subsequent week because the firm faces allegations of conspiring with different main U.S. poultry producers to lift the value of hen.
A spokesperson for the corporate confirmed that the trial will happen, however because it was a authorized matter, declined to remark additional.
This explicit antitrust case entails a category of direct purchasers, who filed a class-action lawsuit that accuses the next firms of such a conspiracy: Sanderson Farms, Wayne Farms, Perdue Farms, Fieldale Farms, Case Farms, Claxton Poultry, Foster Farms, Tyson Meals, Pilgrim’s Delight, Harrison Poultry, Koch Meals, Mountaire Farms, Keystone Meals, Peco Meals, O.Okay. Meals, Home of Raeford Farms, Simmons Meals and Agri Stats.
Sanderson Farms and Wayne Farms have since merged to type one firm, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, however the plaintiffs say the alleged collusion occurred on or earlier than 2012 – one decade earlier than the 2 firms merged. Tyson Meals and Keystone Meals are additionally one firm, as Tyson acquired Keystone in 2018.
On June 30, 2023, within the U.S. District Court docket for the Northern District of Illinois, Choose Thomas M. Durkin issued a choice that there was inadequate proof that Wayne Farms occurred in any such conspiracy, and in that very same resolution, it was decided that there was additionally inadequate proof in opposition to Perdue Farms, Fieldale Farms, Case Farms, Claxton Poultry, Foster Farms and Agri Stats.
On the time the choice involving Wayne Farms was made, Wayne-Sanderson Farms Chief Authorized and Compliance Officer Jeremy Kilburn stated: “Wayne-Sanderson Farms is happy with the courtroom’s resolution on June 30 to grant our request for abstract judgement concerning Wayne Farms LLC within the Broiler Rooster Antitrust Litigation, and the courtroom’s conclusion that most of the different key allegations by the plaintiffs … fail as a matter of regulation. This ruling validates what has been Wayne Farms’ place since the day these fits had been filed: Wayne Farms acted lawfully and was not a part of any conspiracy to restrain provide or repair costs.
“Though we’re upset within the courtroom’s resolution concerning Sanderson Farms, we’re wanting ahead to defending these claims utilizing new motions primarily based on the courtroom’s favorable rulings of June 30, and at trial if wanted. We’re assured that the details, when introduced, will exhibit that the actions of Sanderson Farms and its former management had been lawful as effectively.”
Durkin wrote {that a} jury might doubtlessly discover that different defendant firms might need been concerned in some type of conspiracy, primarily based on the proof made out there. These firms embrace Tyson Meals, Pilgrim’s Delight, Sanderson Farms, Harrison Poultry, Koch Meals, Mountaire Farms, Keystone Meals, O.Okay. Meals, Peco Meals, Home of Raeford Farms and Simmons Meals.
Some settlements have been supplied by defendant firms.
In line with a Bloomberg Legislation report, jury choice has commenced, with opening arguments anticipated to start on September 18.
