$152.2M tuna antitrust class action settlement

Starkist and Lion Capital agreed to a $152.2 million tuna settlement to resolve claims they conspired with other tuna companies to raise and fix the price of canned tuna.

The settlement benefits residents of Arizona, Arkansas, California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin who indirectly purchased cans or pouches of tuna smaller than 40 ounces between June 1, 2011, and July 1, 2015.

The multidistrict litigation against the tuna companies claims they conspired together to raise and fix the prices of canned and pouched tuna products. This conspiracy allegedly allowed them to overcharge for products.

Starkist is a canned tuna brand. Lion Capital is a former owner of Bumble Bee Foods, another tuna manufacturer.

Starkist and Lion haven’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $130 million and $6 million, respectively, to resolve the class action lawsuit. When these settlement benefits are combined with the $6 million Chicken of the Sea settlement, class members could benefit from $152.2 million in available settlement funds.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members can receive a proportional share of the net settlement fund based on the number of eligible products they purchased during the class period. No payment estimates are available at this time.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Nov. 8, 2024.

The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for Nov. 22, 2024.

To receive tuna settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Dec. 31, 2024. Class members who already filed a claim with the Chicken of the Sea tuna settlement do not need to file a second claim. Their information will be used to distribute benefits from this settlement, as well.

Who’s Eligible

Residents of Arizona, Arkansas, California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin who indirectly purchased cans or pouches of tuna smaller than 40 ounces between June 1, 2011, and July 1, 2015

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

12/31/2024

Case Name

In re: Packaged Seafood Products Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 3:15-md-02670-DMS-MSB, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Final Hearing

11/22/2024

Settlement Website

TunaEndPurchaserSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Tuna End Purchaser Case
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 91442
Seattle, WA 98111
[email protected]
866-615-0977

Class Counsel

Betsy C Manifold
Rachele R Byrd
Alex J Tramontano
Mark C Rifkin
Thomas H Burt
WOLF HALDENSTEIN ADLER FREEMAN & HERZ LLP

Defense Counsel

Alfred C Pfeiffer
Christopher S Yates
Belinda S Lee
Ashley M Bauer
Jason M Ohta
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP

Adam S Paris
Brandon T Wallace
Paul Lazarow
SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP