Perdue Farms $217 Million Poultry Wages Settlement

If you worked in poultry processing between 2000 and 2021, you may be eligible to claim a portion of a $217,250,000 class action settlement.

Perdue Farms and several other poultry companies have agreed to pay $217,250,000 to settle a class action lawsuit for allegedly conspiring to suppress wages for their workers.

Who can submit a claim?

To be eligible to submit a claim, you must have worked at any of the defendants' poultry processing complexes, plants, hatcheries, or feed mills in the United States from January 1, 2000, to July 20, 2021.

However, if you only worked for Pilgrim's Pride, George's, or George's Foods, you are only part of the class if you worked in poultry processing plants in the United States from January 1, 2009, to July 20, 2021. Employees of these three defendants who only worked in poultry hatcheries and feed mills are not part of the class.

If you received a postcard or email notice, records show you are in the class. If you did not receive a postcard or email notice, you may still be in the class. You can check if your employer or the place you worked is on the list by visiting the official settlement website.

How much can class members get?

The amount of money you can receive from the settlement depends on several factors, including how many people are in the class, how long you worked for the defendants, how much money you made, and the amount of money the court approves for costs, fees, and awards. The total settlement amount of $217,250,000 will be distributed pro rata to class members.

For example, if there are 100,000 class members and the net settlement fund is $200,000,000 after deducting fees and costs, each class member would receive $2,000. However, this amount will vary based on individual earnings and employment duration.

Is proof required to submit a claim?

Yes. Claimants need to provide proof of their employment to claim an award.

If you received a postcard or email notice, you do not need to provide additional proof. If you did not receive a notice, you will need to fill out a participation form and provide documentation of your employment.

How to claim an award

To claim an award, you can file a claim online by visiting the online claim portal when it goes live.

If you prefer to submit your claim by mail, you can print the participation form from the official settlement website or call 1-877-311-3745 to request a form.

Mail the completed form to:

Poultry Wages Settlement

c/o A.B. Data, Ltd.

P.O. Box 173016

Milwaukee, WI 53217

Your participation form must be submitted online or postmarked by January 31, 2025.

Claim instructions

Follow these steps to submit a claim:

• Visit the online claim form or call 1-877-311-3745 to request a participation form.
• Fill out the participation form with your contact information and employment details.
• If you did not receive a postcard or email notice, provide documentation of your employment.
• Submit the form online or mail it to the address provided above.

$217,250,000 Settlement Fund

The settlement fund of $217,250,000 will cover payments to class members, attorneys' fees, notice and administration costs, and awards to class representatives.

• Payments to class members: $217,250,000 minus fees and costs
• Attorneys' fees: Up to 33.33% of the settlements ($72,409,425) plus interest
• Costs: Up to $8.5 million
• Notice and administration costs: TBD
• Awards to class representatives: $30,000 each

Important dates

• Opt Out Deadline: October 23, 2024
• Final Approval Hearing: December 16, 2024
• Participation Period Ends: January 31, 2025

When is the Poultry Wages Settlement payout date?

Payments will be made after the settlements are approved and any appeals are resolved. This process can take time, so please check the official settlement website for updates.

Why is there a class action settlement?

This class action lawsuit alleges that some poultry companies conspired to suppress wages for their workers by discussing how much to pay them. The defendants deny these allegations but have agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of a trial.

What happens next?

The court will hold a hearing on December 16, 2024, to decide whether to approve the settlements. If the settlements are approved, payments will be made to class members after any appeals are resolved.