Pratt Industries, Other Packaging Firms Accused of Price-Fixing

Pratt Industries Inc. and Greif Inc. are among several US packaging companies hit with claims they formed a cartel to raise the price of materials used in products such as cardboard boxes.

The companies colluded to raise prices for containerboard sheets, linerboard sheets, and finished packaging products, according to a proposed class action filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The suit was filed by Artuso Pastry Foods Corp., which purchased materials from one of the named defendants.

Materials companies are common targets for price-fixing claims, with plaintiffs alleging that industries such as PVC ...