NEW YORK – Two class-action law firms reached a $20 million settlement with JBS USA regarding a pork price-fixing case with indirect buyers.

The suit was settled with the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The settlement includes persons and entities who indirectly purchased pork from JBS and its affiliates from Jan. 1, 2009, through April 2, 2021. 

The class-action lawsuit alleged that the company violated federal and state consumer and antitrust laws when conspiring to fix prices for pork.

Along with the monetary payment, the law firms said JBS agreed to cooperate in litigation with other parties in other indirect buyers’ cases. Some of those other companies include Clemens Foods Group, Hormel Food Corp., Seaboard Foods, Smithfield Foods Inc., Triumph Foods Inc., Tyson Foods Inc., and Agri Stats Inc.