Hausfeld LLP Announces $25 Million Partial Settlement in Eggs Antitrust Class Action

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hausfeld LLP, a global plaintiffs’ law firm dedicated to handling complex and class action litigation, today announced a $25 million settlement in In re: Processed Eggs Antitrust Litigation (pending in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania), an antitrust class action brought on behalf of direct purchasers of shell eggs and egg products. The settlement, entered into between the plaintiffs and three of the defendants–Land O’ Lakes, Moark, and Norco–is the first settlement in this case providing monetary compensation to class members.

“The defendants have also agreed to provide cooperation in the form of documents and testimony that we believe will further enable us to pursue claims against the remaining defendants.”

The plaintiffs allege 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. In particular, the plaintiffs contend that numerous defendants conspired 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. According to the plaintiffs’ complaint, the conspiracy was coordinated through several egg trade associations including United Egg Producers and United States Egg Marketers. Plaintiffs previously entered into a non-monetary settlement with Sparboe Farms which provided documents and testimony that plaintiffs used in amending their claims.

The current settlement, which still needs to be approved by the court, would provide compensation to individuals and companies that directly purchased certain shell eggs and egg products from egg producers. In addition, the settling defendants have agreed to provide significant cooperation to the plaintiffs as they pursue their claims against the remaining, non-settling defendants, including Cal-Maine, Michael Foods, and Rose Acre Farms. The settling defendants have agreed to provide information and documents that will include further details about meetings and discussions that occurred among the defendants with regard to price-fixing efforts.

“This is a significant settlement that, if approved, will provide considerable financial relief to the direct purchasers of shell eggs and egg products,” said Michael Hausfeld, one of the co-lead counsel in this case. “The defendants have also agreed to provide cooperation in the form of documents and testimony that we believe will further enable us to pursue claims against the remaining defendants.” Michael Hausfeld is litigating this case with his partners Michael Lehmann, Megan Jones and James Pizzirusso.

Hausfeld LLP serves as one of the co-lead counsel in this case, along with Bernstein Liebhard LLP, Susman Godfrey LLP, and Weinstein, Kitchenoff & Asher LLC.

About Hausfeld LLP

Hausfeld LLP, based in Washington, DC, is a global claimants’ law firm providing litigation services in the areas of antitrust/competition law, consumer fraud, human rights violations, product liability, civil rights, and environmental law. In addition to the Washington office, the firm has operations in New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and London. For additional information about Hausfeld LLP, please visit www.hausfeldllp.com and for this case, www.hausfeldllp.com/pages/current_investigations/146/eggs.