CHICAGO – Poultry producer Simmons Foods Inc., based in Siloam Springs, Ark., was granted preliminary approval from a federal judge on an $8 million class action settlement in one of the pending poultry price-fixing lawsuits.

The suit involving direct purchaser plaintiffs was being heard in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 

Court documents said that if the Simmons agreement is approved, the total amount recovered for the direct purchaser lawsuit is $188.9 million. 

Previously agreed on settlements include Tyson Foods ($79.3 million), Pilgrim’s Pride ($75 million), Peco Foods ($4.96 million), George’s ($4.1 million), Amick Farms ($3.95 million). Fieldale Farms ($2.25 million), Mar-Jac Poultry ($7.98 million) and Harrison Poultry ($3.3 million).

A portion of the settlement fund will have been or will be used for notice and administration costs. The settlement agreement stated that Simmons does not admit any liability and denies the legal claims from the plaintiffs. 

Simmons is one of several poultry companies involved in litigation since 2016 alleging executives were part of a nationwide conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products as early as 2012 until at least 2019. The various allegations included companies coordinating pricing for restaurants, grocery stores and wholesale chicken buyers.

US District Court Judge Thomas M. Durkin continues to preside over this class action lawsuit.

All recent coverage of price-fixing cases can be found on the MEAT+POULTRY website.