JBS $24.5 Million Pork Price-Fixing Settlement Gets Early OK

The pork wholesalers leading a proposed price-fixing class action over an alleged industrywide cartel scheme won preliminary approval from a federal judge in Minneapolis for a $24.5 million settlement with meatpacking giant JBS SA.

Judge John R. Tunheim gave his tentative blessing to the deal, which resolves claims brought by “direct” purchasers, but not parallel retailer and consumer allegations consolidated with them in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.

In addition to the payment, the pact includes a pledge by JBS to cooperate against the other pork processors named as defendants. Class counsel haven’t yet requested ...