The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a proposed amended complaint and consent decree in the District of Maryland with George’s that would resolve claims that the company conspired with other poultry processors to suppress workers’ wages by exchanging compensation information.
According to a press release from the DOJ, George’s provided significant and voluntary cooperation to the investigation to help reach this agreement.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed consent decree, along with the competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed consent decree during a 60-day comment period. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, George’s must not share competitively sensitive information about poultry processing plant workers’ compensation.
If approved by the court, the proposed settlement also:
- Imposes a court-appointed compliance monitor who, for the next seven years, will ensure George’s compliance with the terms of the proposed decree;
- Grants the court-appointed monitor authority to ensure George’s compliance with all federal antitrust laws as they relate to its poultry processing facilities, workers at its poultry processing plants, chicken growers, integrated poultry feed, hatcheries, transportation of poultry and poultry products, and the sale of poultry, and to submit regular reports on George’s antitrust compliance;
- Prohibits George’s from retaliating against any employee or third party for disclosing information to the monitor or to government authorities;
- Permits the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division to inspect George’s facilities and interview employees to ensure George’s compliance with the consent decree; and
- Commits George’s to pay $5.8 million in restitution for poultry processing plant workers who were harmed by the conspiracy.
These terms would expire seven years after the consent decree is approved by the court.
Any person wishing to submit written comments concerning the proposed consent decree can do so Chief, Civil Conduct Task Force, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8600, Washington, D.C. 20530.
The DOJ previously reached proposed consent decrees in this matter with poultry processors Cargill, Sanderson Farms, and Wayne Farms, as well as with a data consultant, Webber, Meng, Sahl and Company, and its president, G. Jonathan Meng.
