Tyson, Perdue, Others Dodge Antitrust Suit Over Immigrant Wages

Tyson Foods Inc. and other top poultry processors tentatively escaped a lawsuit alleging an industrywide scheme to depress the wages of their largely immigrant workforce, although the Maryland federal judge hearing the case signaled she might revive it if the workers can offer more specifics.

Despite the suit’s “smoking gun” conspiracy allegations—including a statement by a Tyson executive “fretting about the propriety of wage discussions at the secret meetings” and “admitting to the inappropriateness of its conduct"—it suffers from a fatal flaw, Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher wrote.

“Without any explanation beyond baldly alleging a corporate relationship, plaintiffs group numerous ...