Tuna Direct Purchaser Case
In re: Packaged Seafood Products Antitrust Litigation
Case No. 3:15-md-02670

 

If you purchased Packaged Tuna products directly from Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, StarKist, or Thai Union Group between June 1, 2011 and July 31, 2015, you could be affected by a class action.

 

Update: The litigation between the Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs and Non-Settling Defendants StarKist, DWI, Lion Capital, and Lion (Americas) is ongoing. A trial date has been set for July 15, 2024. The Court granted summary judgment to Big Catch on August 18, 2023.

What is this lawsuit about?

A group of small businesses, known as the Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs, sued on behalf of a class of similarly situated direct purchasers alleging that Defendants Chicken of the Sea and Thai Union, Bumble Bee Foods LLC, StarKist Co., Dongwon Industries Co. Ltd., Lion Capital LLP, Big Catch Cayman LP, and Lion Capital (Americas), Inc. conspired to fix, raise, and maintain the prices for Packaged Tuna, and that, as a result, members of the class paid more than they otherwise would have.

SETTLEMENT CLASS: A settlement was reached with Chicken of the Sea and Thai Union (“Settling Defendants”). This settlement is referred to as the COSI Settlement. The claims deadline for the COSI Settlement has passed, and payments to Individual Settlement Class Members will be distributed in the future after the ongoing litigation with non-Settling Defendants is resolved.

LITIGATION CLASS: The lawsuit against StarKist Co., Dongwon Industries Co. Ltd., Lion Capital LLP, Big Catch Cayman LP and Lion Capital (Americas), Inc. (“Non-Settling Defendants”) is ongoing. Bumble Bee Foods LLC declared bankruptcy. The Court has indicated that it intends to set dates for the trial in the near future. If the Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs can prove their claims at trial, then the Court will treble any damages awarded by the jury and award attorneys’ fees and costs in an amount determined by the Court. If the Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs prevail, then they may also seek a discretionary amount of pre-judgment interest.

For more information regarding the Settlement Class or Litigation Class, please visit the FAQ page for answers to many common questions.

If you are a Litigation Class Member, your rights will be affected whether you act or not. Please read below to view your rights and options.

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS

 

You May Explanation Deadline
STAY IN THE LITIGATION CLASS AND DO NOTHING
  • Remain a member of the Litigation Class for purposes of trial or other judgments and be bound by any outcome.
  • Give up your right to sue, or to continue to sue, the Non-Settling Defendants on your own for your claims in the case.
 None

ASK TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE LITIGATION CLASS
 ("OPT OUT")
  • Remove yourself from the Litigation Class.  You will not be bound by the outcome of any trial or judgment.  You will keep your right to sue, or to continue to sue, the Non-Settling Defendants on your own for the claims in this case.  Class Counsel will no longer represent your interests in this litigation.
  • You will not receive payment from the litigation with the Non-Settling Defendants.
  • Each of the Non-Settling Defendants may be held jointly and severally liable for the conduct of every other Non-Settling Defendant, Bumble Bee, and Settling Defendants, if each or any of the Non-Settling Defendants is found liable for the alleged claims.
 Postmarked by June 12, 2023
NOTIFY THE CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR OF CLAIMS YOU HAVE RELEASED
  • You may stay in the Litigation Class even if you have resolved your claims with any of the Non-Settling Defendants and released them from liability.  However, you must advise the settlement administrator of the entities with which you have released your claims, or you may be in breach of your settlement agreement.  To the extent that any of the Non-Settling Defendants that you have not released from liability are found to have participated in the collusive conduct described below, those entities are jointly and severally liable for any damages proven at trial.  If you stay in the Litigation Class, but believe that you have released one or more of the Non-Settling Defendants your claims, you must notify the claims administrator of the Non-Settling Defendants that you have released in a writing postmarked by the Exclusion deadline.  If you want advice about your options, please contact the Notice Administrator or Class Counsel.
 Postmarked by June 12, 2023

For More Information

Visit this website often to get the most up-to-date information.

Call
1-866-615-0970
Email
info@TunaDirectPurchaserCase.com
Mail
Tuna Direct Purchaser – Litigation Class
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91457
Seattle, WA 98111
 
Mail
Tuna Direct Purchaser – Settlement Class
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91241
Seattle, WA 98111