April 3, 2023
A Maryland federal judge on Monday gave her preliminary blessing to Perdue Farms’ $60.7 million settlement with workers who claim the company conspired to keep wages low at its poultry processing plants, certifying a nationwide settlement class of past and present Perdue poultry workers.
U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher granted preliminary approval to the deal, finding that it is “sufficiently fair, reasonable and adequate” to resolve the dispute. Judge Gallagher certified a settlement class of all persons employed by Perdue, its subsidiaries or related entities at poultry facilities across the continental United States from 2000 until July 2021.
The class excludes managers, human resources managers, office staff, salesmen and watchmen at those facilities, the judge noted.
Under the deal, Perdue will make a total cash payment of $60,650,000.
Judge Gallagher also appointed Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, Handley Farah & Anderson PLLC and Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC as settlement class counsel. And she appointed named plaintiffs Judy Jien, Kieo Jibidi, Elaisa Clement, Glenda Robinson, Emily Earnest and Kevin West as class representatives, according to the decision.
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The workers are represented by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC and Handley Farah & Anderson PLLC.
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