On October 26, 2020, an Illinois federal judge tossed unjust enrichment claims and some state claims in the proposed class action brought by an indirect purchaser of turkey products against turkey wholesalers, including Perdue, Tyson, and others, accusing them of illegally trading confidential information to limit supply of turkeys and inflate prices.
U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall tossed the plaintiff’s unjust enrichment claims with prejudice because it failed to clearly state under which laws or which states it sought to bring those claims, and such pleading made it “exceedingly difficult” to know under which jurisdictions plaintiff wanted to proceed. However, Judge Kendall declined to dismiss plaintiff’s federal antitrust claims, antitrust claims in more than 20 states, and consumer protection claims in more than 10 states.
The complaint, filed last April, alleges that defendants entered into an agreement to illegally exchange confidential price data through a platform called Agri Stats Inc., and use the information to cut supply of turkeys and raise prices to artificially high levels for seven years. This conduct, plaintiff alleges, caused it to pay more for turkey than it would have under normal market conditions.
About Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP focuses on complex civil litigation, including securities, antitrust, wage and hour and consumer class actions as well as shareholder derivative and merger and transactional litigation. The firm is headquartered in New York, and maintains offices in California, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
Since its founding in 1995, Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP has served as lead or co-lead counsel in numerous high-profile cases which ultimately provided significant recoveries to investors, direct purchasers, consumers and employees.
To schedule a free consultation with our attorneys and to learn more about your legal rights, call our offices today at (877) 247-4292 or (212) 983-9330.
About Kristyn Fields
Kristyn Fields' practice is focused on antitrust litigation. Kristyn is a Senior Associate in the firm's New York office.Prior to joining F&F, Kristyn interned for the Honorable Martin Marcus, New York Supreme Court, Bronx County. As well, Kristyn participated in the Brooklyn Law Incubator & Policy Clinic providing pro bono counsel to emerging start-up companies. While at Brooklyn Law School, Kristyn served as an Executive Articles Editor of the Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law. Also, Kristyn was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society.Kristyn earned her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School (2016). Kristyn earned her undergraduate degree from Boston College (B.A., Political Science, 2013).Kristyn is licensed to practice law in New York.
Kristyn Fields
Partner at Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP
New York office
Tel: (212) 983-9330
Fax: (212) 983-9331
E-mail: kfields@faruqilaw.com
Social: LinkedIn