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Target, Walmart, and other indirect commercial tuna purchasers have secured a $6.5 million settlement with Chicken of the Sea and its parent company Tri-Union Seafoods LLC which would end allegations of price-fixing, according to court documents filed Wednesday.
The deal will need to be approved by a California federal court and comes after a trio of Classes were decertified by the Ninth Circuit. In addition, a different $6.5 million settlement proposed by Chicken of the Sea was rejected by a federal judge just over a year ago.
The indirect buyers say that they have resolved the issues noted by the judge and the settlement agreement would end the long-standing, massive price-fixing multidistrict ligation (MDL) formed concerning the price of canned tuna.
“The parties reached agreement after years of litigation,” states the motion for preliminary approval of the settlement. “Plaintiffs’ ‘significant investigation, discovery and research’ weigh in favor of finding that the settlement was adequately informed. Counsel for both sides are experienced and nationally recognized for competently handling large-scale, complex antitrust class action litigation. The settlement brings substantial value to the class.”
In addition to payments to indirect commercial tuna buyers, such as Sam’s Club, Walmart, and CVS, the deal will garner $3 million in attorney fees, as well as plaintiffs’ awards.
Tri-Union and Chicken of the Sea were accused of participating in a scheme with other seafood companies to artificially inflate the price of canned tuna in the US between 2011 to 2013. The canned tuna price-fixing allegations resulted in more than 30 lawsuits and class action lawsuits related to the price gouging and criminal antitrust charges.
The legal actions were consolidated in 2015 and Chicken of the Sea ultimately admitted to the scheme and price-fixing.
In January, Chicken of the Sea announced the deal now pending with a California federal court, saying in a statement that it had improved its practices in response to the litigation.
Do you buy Chicken of the Sea canned tuna? Tell us about it in the comment section below.
The indirect purchasers are represented by Jonathan W. Cuneo, Joel Davidow and Blaine Finley of Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca LLP.
The Chicken of the Sea Class Action Lawsuit is In re: Packaged Seafood Products Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 3:15-md-02670, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
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331 thoughts onTuna Buyers Hook Another $6.5M Deal In Chicken of the Sea Price-Fixing Class Action
Please add me. I’ve bought this product for years
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Yes I buy it my son loves it
I have bought this for many years. Several cans in my cabinets now.please add me. Thank you
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Add me. I shop at walmart. I buy chicken of the sea solid white or chunk albacore tuna. Its the best!
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