Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice entered into a settlement agreement with several poultry processors and a data consultant regarding allegations that they had conspired to share wage and benefit information, harming the labor market for poultry processing plant workers. As part of the settlement, the defendants agreed to pay (collectively) $85 million in restitution and the DOJ imposed a lengthy ten-year monitorship to ensure defendants’ compliance with the settlement and with antitrust laws. The United States District Court for the District of Maryland entered orders approving the settlements the day after they were filed.
