Chinese-Origin Honey Transshipping Class Action Settlement

A preliminary $796,312 class action settlement has been reached between a group of honey importers and domestic honey producers who allege the importers were involved in a global conspiracy to transship Chinese honey and evade millions of dollars in anti-dumping duties.

In June 2013, three class action lawsuits against honey producers and distributors Groeb Farms Inc. and Honey Holding I Ltd., were consolidated in federal court. The plaintiffs allege the honey companies engaged in a scheme to defraud the U.S. government and Class Members by unlawfully importing Chinese honey, in violation of the Lanham Act and the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Specifically, the plaintiffs claim that the defendants conspired to illegally “transship” honey originating in China through intermediate countries into the United States and falsely represented that such honey originated from countries other than China to avoid paying anti-dumping fees the U.S. government imposed on Chinese honey.

These actions purportedly depressed the domestic honey market and caused plaintiffs and other domestic commercial honey producers and packers to suffer economic loss and financial harm.

Under the terms of the settlement, Honey Holding and the other defendants will pay $796,312 into a settlement fund, to be distributed to Class Members, following deductions of no more than 33 percent for attorneys’ fees, administration costs and expenses.

The honey importers deny any wrongdoing and specifically deny having violated any laws, but have opted to settle the case to avoid further expense and inconvenience.

Who’s Eligible

“All individuals and entities with commercial beekeeping operations (300 or more hives) and packers of honey that produced and/or sold honey in the United States during the period from 2001 to October 2, 2015,” are eligible to submit a claim.

The following alleged co-conspirators, entities, and individuals are excluded from the Class: Chris Moore d/b/a Moore’s Honey Farm, Cox Honey of Utah LLC, Brett Adee d/b/a Adee Honey Farms, Kelvin Adee d/b/a Adee Honey Farms, Daniel C. Whitney d/b/a Davis Honey Company, Bauer Honey Inc., Bee Natural Honey LLC, Bernard Casavan d/b/a Casavan Apiaries, Blake Shook d/b/a Desert Creek Honey, Ruby’s Apiaries Inc., Kallas Honey Farm Inc., Wind River Honey Company, Heaven’s Honey Inc. d/b/a Chip’s Bees and Bennett’s Honey Farm, Brad Stromme d/b/a Stromme Honey, Dan’s Honey Co., William H. Perry d/b/a Perry Apiaries, McCoy’s Sunny South Apiaries Inc., Willow Bee, LLC, GloryBee Natural Sweeteners Inc. and Orange Apiary Inc.

Potential Award

Varies.

Following approval of the proposed $796,312 settlement, the net settlement fund will be distributed among eligible Class Members who submit a timely and valid Claim Form on a “pro rata basis proportional to the mass of honey produced or packed (whichever is greater, mass produced and mass packed shall not be added together).”

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

Claim Form Deadline

01/28/2017

Note: Class Members who previously submitted a valid Claim Form related to the prior partial settlement with Groeb Farms will automatically have their Claims Forms considered by the Settlement Administrator in determining the pro rata distribution of this net settlement fund. If a Class Member wishes to resubmit a new or updated Claim Form, they are free to do so, but resubmission is not required.

Case Name

Moore, et al. v. Groeb, et al., Case No. 1:13-cv-02905, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Final Hearing

11/10/2016

Settlement Website

www.eclaim.kccllc.net

Claims Administrator

Honey Transshipping Settlement Administrator
c/o Kurtzman Carson Consultants (KCC)
PO Box 43355
Providence, RI 02940-9554
888-706-3404

Class Counsel

Adam J. Levitt
GRANT & EISENHOFER PA

James J. Pizzirusso
HAUSFELD LLP

Defense Counsel

Darren B. Watts
SWANSON MARTIN & BELL
Counsel for Honey Holding I LTD, HHI Management LLC, & Douglas A. Murphy

Mark E. Shure
Susan A. Stoddard
LATIMER LEVAY FYOCK LLC
Counsel for Ecotrade International Inc.

Michael W. Shumate
Sean M. Sullivan
DALEY MOHAN GROBLE PC

Stacey L. Barnes
Eric D’Olive
LEWIS & BARNES
Counsel for Bees Brothers LLC

William P. Ziegelmueller
Mark L. Rotert
STETLER DUFFY & ROTERT LTD

M.H. Cersonsky
CERSONSKY, ROSEN & GARCIA PC
Counsel for National Honey Inc. and Jun Yang

Robert Andrew Chapman
Douglas F. McMeyer
CHAPMAN & SPINGOLA LLP
Counsel for Odem International

Brad C. Graveline
David M. Poell
SHEPPARD MULLIN RICHTER & HAMPTON LLP
Counsel for Urbain Tran

Alan S. Madans
Daniel A. Cummings
Kenneth P. Taube
ROTHSCHILD BARRY & MYERS LLP
Counsel for Sunland Trading, Inc.