MINNEAPOLIS – Recent court documents confirmed that JBS USA reached a $20 million settlement regarding a recent pork price-fixing case dealing with consumers. 

Judge John R. Tunheim of the US District Court of Minnesota shared that $6.6 million would be paid in plaintiff attorney fees that will come from the common fund, and another $300,000 in reimbursement will go to attorneys’ costs.

During 2021, JBS reached a $24.5 million agreement over price-fixing allegations with wholesalers and a $20 million agreement in this case. In November of last year, Tunheim approved a $12.75 million between the company and Commercial and Institutional Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs (CIIPS).

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

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 on the MEAT+POULTRY website.