In re: Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation
Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation
Case No. 16-cv-08637



WELCOME TO THE BROILER CHICKEN ANTITRUST LITIGATION WEBSITE


On March 31, 2022, payments were issued to Class Members that submitted Claim Forms with validated qualifying Broiler purchases. Pro rata distributions have been made from the Settlements with Defendants Fieldale, Amick, George’s, Peco, Pilgrim’s Pride and Tyson. These distributions are now complete and all payments have been negotiated or voided.


Additional settlements have been reached in a class action antitrust lawsuit filed on behalf of Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs (“Plaintiffs”) of Broiler chicken. The new settlements are with Defendants Simmons Foods, Inc. and Simmons Prepared Foods, Inc. (collectively, “Simmons”); Mountaire Farms Inc., Mountaire Farms of Delaware, Inc., and Mountaire Farms, LLC (collectively, “Mountaire”); and O.K. Foods, Inc., O.K. Farms, Inc., and O.K. Industries, Inc. (collectively, “O.K. Foods” and with Simmons and Mountaire the “New Settling Defendants” and “New Settlements”).

What is this lawsuit about?

This class action, In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, N.D. Ill. Case No. 1:16-cv-08637, is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Durkin presides over this class action.

Plaintiffs allege that Defendants and their Co-Conspirators conspired to fix, raise, maintain, and stabilize the price of Broilers, beginning at least as early as January 1, 2008. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants implemented their conspiracy in various ways, including via coordinated supply restrictions, sharing competitively sensitive price and production information, and otherwise manipulating Broiler prices, with the intent and expected result of increasing prices of Broilers in the United States, in violation of federal antitrust laws. Defendants deny the violation and deny causing damages.

The Court previously gave final approval to settlements between the Plaintiffs and Tyson, Pilgrim’s Pride, Fieldale Farms, Peco, George’s, Amick, Mar-Jac, and Harrison Poultry. The Court has now preliminarily approved settlements with Simmons, Mountaire, and O.K. Foods. The Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs’ case is proceeding against all other Defendants who have not settled the case. If applicable, you will receive a separate notice regarding any resolution of claims against other Defendants.

Who are the Non-Settling Defendants?

"Non-Settling Defendants"refers to Sanderson Farms, Inc.; Sanderson Farms, Inc. (Foods Division); Sanderson Farms, Inc. (Production Division); and Sanderson Farms, Inc. (Processing Division).

Your legal rights are affected whether you act or don’t act. Please read the information on this website and in the notice carefully. Additional information about eligibility, the Settlements, the lawsuit, and important Court documents may be found on the Court Documents and FAQ pages of this website.

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT
OPTIONS RESULT
OBJECT
You may write to the Court about why you don’t like the New Settlements with Simmons, Mountaire, and/or O.K. Foods, or the motion for reimbursement of expenses. Objections must be postmarked by November 11, 2023. The deadline to object to the substantive terms of the settlements with the Previous Settling Defendants has already passed.
ATTEND THE FAIRNESS
HEARING
You may request to speak in Court about the fairness of the New Settlements by providing notice by November 11, 2023.
DO NOTHING You will remain part of the New Settlements and you may participate in any monetary distribution to qualified purchasers. The New Settlements will resolve your claims against Simmons, Mountaire, and O.K. Foods, and you will give up your rights to sue or to continue suing Simmons, Mountaire, and O.K. Foods about the Released Claims (as defined in the Settlement Agreements). You will be bound by the judgments.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit this website often to get the most up-to-date information.

Settlement Administrator:
Broiler Direct Antitrust Litigation
c/o A.B. Data, Ltd.
P.O. Box 173134
Milwaukee, WI 53217
866-552-1178
info@broilerchickenantitrustlitigation.com