BALTIMORE, MD. — A preliminary approval on a lawsuit settlement was brought by nine poultry processors for $180 million after several years of anti-trust claims, including allegations of conspiring to depress worker wages.

The class action memorandum was filed in the US District Court of Maryland on Dec. 23. US District Judge Stephanie Gallagher would now review the document and nine proposed settlements.

The document showed the amount each company would pay to settle the matter.  

The plaintiffs in this case include Allen Harim Foods LLC ($5 million), Amick Farms LLC ($6.25 million), Butterball LLC ($8.5 million), Fieldale Farms Corp. ($5.5 million), Foster Poultry Farms ($13.3 million), Jennie-O Turkey Store Inc. ($3.5 million), Koch Foods Inc. ($18.5 million), OK Foods Inc. ($4.75 million), Tyson Foods Inc. and Keystone Foods Inc ($115.5 million combined).

The court filing said that the approval “secured extensive cooperation obligations that Plaintiffs expect will materially strengthen their claims against Agri Stats.”

The plaintiffs previously alleged that the companies conspired by exchanging compensation data provided by Agri Stats Inc. and others. They also alleged that company executives held “off the books” meetings, and managers exchanged future compensation plans across plants via phone calls and electronic surveys.

All of the companies denied wrongdoing with the settlement.

Other major poultry brands like Perdue and Sanderson Farms settled last year. In April, Mountaire Farms and Case Farms came to a settlement agreement.