A divided circuit panel ruled that StarKist must first determine how many of the class members were not injured before certifying a predominance class. This case involved three different companies, with the third one being owned by StarKist. The jury sided with the plaintiffs in December, when the judge imposed a $100 million fine on the company. A year later, Bumble Bee was also ordered to pay a $25 million fine, but it filed for bankruptcy protection. Ultimately, the company faces additional lawsuits from Walmart and other consumers and is seeking bankruptcy protection.
In response to the suit, StarKist settled its case with the Justice Department, settling for $20.5 million.
The company, which produces more than 40 percent of the country’s canned tuna products, has not admitted wrongdoing. The settlement is a result of the company admitting that it underfilled the cans, resulting in an overpriced product. Although the judge agreed that StarKist owed the plaintiffs the $20.5 million, the jury found the company guilty of price-fixing.
In its settlement, StarKist did not admit guilt and will pay $25 in cash or $50 in tuna to the Class Action. However, the Justice Department’s office is seeking more than $12 million in damages. As a result, the case remains open and the attorneys are preparing to present their arguments at trial. The case continues to be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The parties involved are still negotiating a settlement.
The StarKist tuna lawsuit is ongoing.
The class-action lawsuit alleges that StarKist sold canned tuna in under-filled cans. The deadline for filing a claim was November 20, 2015. Originally, the company was expected to pay $25 in cash or $50 in vouchers, but the court ruled that too many consumers were not harmed by the scheme. The decision is expected to take several months, but the settlement agreement was reached in the meantime.
The StarKist tuna lawsuit continues to be the subject of a series of updates. While StarKist does not admit any wrongdoing, the lawsuit was filed after the Justice Department admitted that it was guilty of illegal price-fixing. The company has since pleaded guilty, and the case is now moving forward. The fine is $50 million, but the Attorney General said the company could receive up to 12 times that amount in the future.
The StarKist tuna lawsuit is ongoing and is a life or death matter for both the plaintiff and the defendant.
The Department of Justice was investigating the case, but ultimately, the company did not admit wrongdoing. The government’s investigation was a “sham” and the company agreed to pay $12 million to settle the case. In December, the company pleaded guilty to the charges and was ordered to pay a $20.5 million fine to Walmart.
A federal judge denied final approval of the StarKist tuna settlement in November. The Justice Department has also been pursuing a similar lawsuit, though with a lower fine. In 2015, the case reached a resolution that would allow the company to settle the lawsuit. The jury ruled in favor of the StarKist defendants. This lawsuit is the largest of its type in the US and is continuing to progress. This ruling will determine whether the company can be found liable. The verdict is a major win for consumers.
In the meantime, the StarKist tuna lawsuit is a matter of price-fixing.
According to the complaint, the company was attempting to monopolize the market by transferring profits to its parent, Dongwon. The two companies were linked with the conspiracy, which involved under-filled five-ounce cans. In the end, the judge sided with the consumer, which resulted in a $50 million fine.
The StarKist tuna lawsuit is a price-fixing case. In this case, the StarKist companies had allegedly conspired to raise the prices of canned fish and subsequently monopolize the market. The consumer would then be given a $25 voucher, but if the manufacturer refused to pay the full amount, they were forced to reimburse their consumers. The settlement is still an uphill battle for the StarKist, but the settlement will help consumers.
