By Jamie Martin
On February 20, 2025, the Cattle Plaintiffs involved in the Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation achieved preliminary approval of an $83.5 million settlement with JBS.
This settlement arises from the class action lawsuit filed in 2019 by R-CALF USA, four individual ranchers, and the National Farmers Union. Litigation against other major beef processors Tyson, Cargill, and National Beef continues separately.
The court has set important deadlines for those eligible to participate in the JBS settlement. The “Settlement Classes” include cattle feeders who sold fed cattle directly to Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and/or National Beef between June 1, 2015, and February 29, 2020.
It also covers individuals who held a long position in live cattle futures traded on the CME before June 1, 2015, and liquidated that position through an offsetting market transaction prior to November 1, 2016. The deadline for submitting claims is September 15, 2025.
Detailed information about the settlement and the claims process is available on the official website, www.CattleAntitrustSettlement.com. This site offers guidance on filing claims, objecting to the settlement, or opting out.
R-CALF USA encourages anyone who fits the Settlement Classes’ criteria to carefully review the website’s materials and submit their claims before the deadline.
Importantly, as stated in the claim form, any information provided by cattle feeders or futures traders will be kept confidential and will not be shared publicly or with any defendant.
“We filed this case after witnessing the inexplicable collapse of fed cattle prices beginning in 2015,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard adding, “Our case has been working its way through the court for six years now and we will continue in our effort to recover as much as we can for American cattlemen.”
The Cattle Plaintiffs are represented by legal teams from Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP, Cafferty Clobes Meriwether & Sprengel LLP, and Robins Kaplan LLP.
For any questions related to the JBS settlement or the claims process, potential class members can contact the appointed Claims Administrator at 1-844-435-8844 or Info@CattleAntitrustSettlement.com.
Photo Credit: r-calf-usa
Categories: National