Settlement Announced in Egg Antitrust Litigation
A plaintiffs’ firm has announced a $25 million partial settlement in an antitrust class action “brought on behalf of direct purchasers of shell eggs and egg products.” In re: Processed Eggs Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 2002 (E.D. Pa.). According to Hausfeld LLP, plaintiffs alleged “a near industry-wide, price-fixing conspiracy among egg farmers which raised the price of shell eggs and egg products in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.” The lawsuit specifically claimed that the United Egg Producers, United States Egg Marketers and other trade associations coordinated a conspiracy “to restrict egg supply through cage space requirements, as well as coordinated molting schedules and hen reductions, and exported eggs at a loss in order to reduce domestic supplies and raise prices.”
The three settling defendants—Land O’Lakes, Inc., Moark, LLC, and Norco Ranch Inc.—have reportedly agreed “to provide significant cooperation to the plaintiffs as they pursue their claims against the remaining, non-settling defendants.” The settlement has yet to be approved by the court. See Hausfeld LLP Press Release, June 7, 2010.
