ST. PAUL, MINN. — US Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota John Docherty denied Agri Stats’ motion to seal a complaint filled with information the company deemed “confidential” for commercial and competition purposes.

The complaint, which was filed by the US Department of Justice on Sept. 28, alleges Agri Stats violated the Sherman Act by collecting and distributing competitively sensitive information on price, costs and output among meat and poultry processors.

According to the lawsuit, meat and poultry processors have engaged in alleged malpractices with Agri Stats for two decades. The DOJ said the processors would collectively have the power to manipulate their respective markets and prices if they exchanged information through the data company.

Agri Stats proposed sealing the complaint on Oct. 6. The DOJ opposed the action, saying, “Neither Agri Stats’ motion nor its prefiling discussions with the United States explain how or why any of the information identified in the Complaint could cause competitive harm to Agri Stats.”

Docherty declined the move to file the complaint under seal, pointing out that the Amended Antitrust Civil Process Act grants the DOJ authority to make materials public by superseding inconsistent orders or rules.