Two more U.S. poultry companies have to offer to settle in a lawsuit that accuses them of conspiring with other poultry producers to suppress wages and benefits for employees.
Court documents were filed on August 28 in United States District Court, District of Maryland, on behalf of Allen Harim Foods and Fieldale Farms.
The two documents are nearly identical, stating that the class plaintiffs have reached an agreement with each defendant company to settle all claims. The terms of the settlements were not disclosed, and both settlement offer is subject to final court approval.
An agreement to settle does not mean an admission of guilt.
Fieldale Farms, according to data from the WATTPoultry.com Top Poultry Companies Database, is the country’s 14th largest broiler producer, while Allen Harim ranks as the 19th largest. The companies processed 16.5 million and 7.6 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken on a weekly basis during the past year. Fieldale Farms is headquartered in Baldwin, Georgia, while Allen Harim is headquartered in Millsboro, Delaware.
Within the past two weeks, three of the top broiler producers and the two largest turkey producers in the United States have offered settlements. The other broiler company to reach a settlement is Koch Foods, while the turkey companies referenced are Jennie-O Turkey Store and Butterball.
Other companies reported to have earlier reached settlements in the lawsuit include Tyson Foods, Amick Farms, Pilgrim’s Pride, Simmons Foods, George’s, Peco Foods, Cargill, Sanderson Farms, Wayne Farms, Perdue Farms, Case Farms and Mountaire Farms. Wayne Farms and Sanderson Farms are now one combined company, Wayne-Sanderson Farms. Also named in the initial suit was Keystone Foods, which is now a subsidiary of Tyson Foods.
