MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Legal Newsline) – A Jamestown, New York company alleges that it has paid more for pork because of a conspiracy among companies in the wholesale pork market.
Sandee's Bakery filed a complaint on July 6 in the U.S. District Court District of Minnesota against Agri Stats Inc., Clemens Food Group LLC, Hormel Foods Corp., et al. alleging violation of the Sherman Act and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that between Jan. 1, 2009, and 2018, it indirectly purchased and paid artificially inflated prices for pork. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants, who collectively control more than 80 percent of the wholesale pork market, conspired from 2009 to the present to fix, raise, maintain and stabilize the cost of pork.
The plaintiff holds Agri Stats Inc., Clemens Food Group LLC, Hormel Foods Corp., et al. responsible because the defendants' alleged conspiracy caused the plaintiff and class members to purchase pork at inflated prices.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks pre- and post-judgment interests, and that such interest be awarded at the highest legal rate, recover costs of suit, attorneys' fees, and such other and further relief as the case may require and the court may deem just and proper.
It is represented by Shawn M. Raiter of Larson King LLP in St. Paul, Minnesota; Jonathan W. Cuneo, Joel Davidow and Blaine Finley of Cuneo Gilbert & Laduca LLP in Washington, D.C. and Arthur N. Bailey and Marco Cercone of Arthur N. Bailey & Associates in Jamestown, New York.
U.S. District Court District of Minnesota case number 0:18-cv-01891-JRT-SER