Government Intervention Pauses Tuna Price-Fixing Lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has intervened in an ongoing
series of lawsuits against Tri-Union Seafoods, StarKist and Bumble Bee
Foods alleging the companies conspired to set prices for tuna in the
United States. In re Packaged Seafood Prods. Antitrust Litig., 15-2670
(S.D. Cal., order entered January 20, 2015). A California federal court
granted the government’s unopposed motion to intervene at a status
conference with attorneys representing several consumer and competitor
plaintiffs in the consolidated action. The court found “common questions
of law and fact between this civil action and an ongoing criminal grand
jury investigation” conducted by the DOJ and accordingly granted a
stay in the case. Details about the consolidation appear in Issue 588 of
this Update and additional information on lawsuits brought by grocers
appears in Issues 574 and 590.

Issue 591