Tyson, Perdue Pay $36 Million to Exit Antitrust Suit by Farmers

Tyson Foods Inc. and Perdue Farms LLC secured their off-ramp from antitrust litigation over an alleged industrywide scheme to drive down pay for chicken farmers, when a federal judge in Oklahoma approved settlements worth a combined $35.75 million.

Judge Robert J. Shelby signed off Feb. 18 on the two agreements—a $21 million deal with Tyson and a $14.75 million pact with Perdue—which resolve class action claims brought against them on behalf of chicken growers in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The settlements call for the companies to refrain from enforcing arbitration clauses or class action ...