John Deere class action settlement includes $99M, right to repair changes

John Deere class action settlement overview:

• Who: Deere & Co. has reached a $99 million settlement with a proposed class of farmers.
• Why: The farmers accused the company of monopolizing the repair market for its tractors and other heavy equipment.
• Where: The John Deere class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.

Deere & Co. has reached a $99 million class action settlement with a proposed class of farmers who accused the company of monopolizing the repair market for its tractors and other heavy equipment.

The John Deere class action settlement, which also includes changes to the company’s repair policies, was filed in Illinois federal court on April 6.

The farmers alleged in their class action lawsuit that Deere engaged in an anticompetitive scheme to withhold vital repair tools from farmers and independent repair providers, forcing them to use authorized Deere dealers for repair services.

The John Deere settlement will provide $99 million to class members who paid Deere’s authorized dealers for repairs to their large agricultural equipment between Jan. 10, 2018, and the date of preliminary approval.

In addition to the monetary relief, Deere has also agreed to provide injunctive relief by making repair resources widely available to farmers and independent repair providers. 

The company will provide access to digital tools required for the maintenance, diagnosis and repair of Deere-brand large agricultural equipment, allowing farmers and independent repair providers to diagnose and fix problems without having to use the services of an authorized Deere dealer.

John Deere already agreed to such changes with the American Farm Bureau Federation in early 2023.

The injunctive relief will be in effect for a 10-year period, during which the court will have continued jurisdiction to enforce the terms of the John Deere class action settlement.

John Deere settlement follows years of contentious litigation

The John Deere settlement comes after years of legal warfare, during which the parties engaged in extensive fact discovery and expert analysis. Deere denied the allegations and moved for judgment on the pleadings, but the court denied Deere’s motion in November 2023.

After the deduction of legal expenses and attorney fees, the remaining balance of the $99 million settlement will be distributed to the settlement class according to a proposed plan of allocation.

The settlement class excludes all governmental entities; Deere and any parent, subsidiary or affiliate thereof; Deere’s officers, directors, employees and immediate families; and any judicial officer presiding over the action and the members of his/her judicial staff and immediate family.

What do you think of the terms of this John Deere class action settlement? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Adam J. Zapala and Elizabeth T. Castillo of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP; Kenneth A. Wexler, Justin N. Boley, Tyler J. Story and Margaret L. Shadid of Wexler Boley & Elgersma LLP; Daniel E. Gustafson, Daniel C. Hedlund, Michelle J. Looby, Frances Mahoney-Mosedale and Dennis Stewart of Gustafson Gluek PLLC; Robert Foote and Kathleen C. Chavez of Foote, Mielke, Chavez & O’Neil LLC; and Marc C. Gravino of WilliamsMcCarthy LLP.

The John Deere class action lawsuit is In re: Deere & Company Repair Services Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 3030, Case No.: 3:22-cv-50188, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Western Division.

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