MINNEAPOLIS – Like other negotiations during 2021, JBS USA was once again approved for a settlement regarding its pork price-fixing case, this time for $12.75 million between the company and Commercial and Institutional Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs (CIIPS).

Judge John R. Tunheim of the US District Court of Minnesota has overseen several settlements between JBS and other parties throughout this year.

“The settlement was attained following an extensive investigation of the facts,” Tunheim wrote in his brief. “It resulted from vigorous arm’s-length negotiations, which were undertaken in good faith by counsel with significant experience litigating antitrust class actions, and with the assistance of a respected mediator.”

The initial approval for this settlement was made in April.

Tunheim also approved an $83 million settlement with Smithfield Foods Inc. earlier in 2021 related to the ongoing pork litigation.  

During this year, JBS reached a $24.5 million agreement over price-fixing allegations with wholesalers and a $20 million agreement on a consumer class-action case.

The initial lawsuits in 2018 accused major US meatpackers of collectively raising pork prices and exchanging detailed sensitive information through Agri Stats.

Other companies named in the original complaint included Agri Stats, Clemens Food Group LLC, Hormel Foods Corp., Indiana Packers Corp., Seaboard Foods LLC, Smithfield Foods Inc., Triumph Foods LLC and Tyson Foods Inc.

All recent coverage of price-fixing cases can be found here on the MEAT+POULTRY website.