Two poultry companies have settled their part of a class-action lawsuit with clients with a $75 million payment authorized by a judge.
House of Raeford Farms is paying $27.5 million and Koch Foods $47.5 million.
The new deals would bring the class total to $284 million in settlements with poultry producers in a case that claims the companies conspired to fix chicken prices. Both companies denied any wrongdoing and said the settlements were made to avoid the cost of litigation and to avoid potential adverse judgement at trial.
The class received the largest settlements from Pilgrim’s Pride ($75 million) and Tyson Foods ($79.3 million).
In September, Justice Thomas Durkin gave preliminary approval for settlements of $15.9 million from Mountaire Farms and $4.9 million from O.K. Foods with the purchaser class.
