A significant development has emerged in the ongoing cattle industry antitrust lawsuit, as R-CALF USA, along with the National Farmers Union (NFU) and four fed cattle producers, filed a motion seeking preliminary approval of an $83.5 million class action settlement with JBS. The motion was submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.
The settlement stems from a class-action lawsuit filed in April 2019, alleging that major meatpacking companies—JBS, Tyson, Cargill, and National Beef—engaged in anticompetitive practices that harmed cattle producers. The plaintiffs, represented by Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP and Cafferty Clobes Meriwether & Sprengel LLP, have agreed to the proposed terms, which include an $83.5 million cash payment as well as non-monetary provisions. These provisions involve the disclosure of certain documents and cooperation from JBS in any subsequent trial against the remaining defendants. Despite the agreement, JBS has not admitted liability and continues to deny any wrongdoing.
If the court grants preliminary approval, settlement class members will receive official notice outlining the settlement details, including instructions on how to submit claims for compensation.
The settlement covers specific groups, including:
- Individuals or entities in the U.S. that directly sold fed cattle for slaughter to JBS, Tyson, Cargill, or National Beef between June 1, 2015, and February 29, 2020, excluding those under cost-plus or profit-sharing agreements.
- Those who held a long position in live cattle futures on the CME before June 1, 2015, and later liquidated their position through an offsetting transaction prior to November 1, 2016.
Further details on the settlement and eligibility requirements will soon be available at www.cattleantitrustsettlement.com.
“We’re pleased to have reached this settlement with JBS and look forward to continuing our case against Tyson, Cargill, and National Beef,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.
The case continues as plaintiffs pursue claims against the remaining defendants, marking a critical moment in the fight for fair competition in the cattle industry.
