September 29, 2022
A Maryland federal judge gave her preliminary stamp of approval to three settlements collectively valued at nearly $85 million over allegations that Cargill Meat Solutions, Sanderson Farms and Wayne Farms conspired to depress workers’ wages.
U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher found Tuesday that the deals between the meat producers and three classes of poultry plant employees were fair and reasonable returns on claims that the companies participated in an industrywide, anti-competitive conspiracy.
“The court finds that the proposed settlements … have been negotiated at arm’s length and are sufficiently fair, reasonable and adequate to authorize dissemination of notice of the settlement agreements to the settlement class,” Judge Gallagher said.
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The workers are represented by Steve W. Berman, Shana E. Scarlett, Rio S. Pierce, Breanna Van Engelen and Abigail D. Pershing of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP; by Benjamin D. Brown, Brent W. Johnson, Daniel Silverman and Alison S. Deich of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC; and by George F. Farah, Rebecca P. Chang, Matthew K. Handley and Stephen Pearson of Handley Farah & Anderson PLLC.
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