Farm-Raised Salmon and Salmon Products
Hausfeld is court-appointed interim Co-Lead Counsel in this class action litigation alleging a price-fixing conspiracy between the leading producers of farm-raised Atlantic Salmon.
The civil litigation follows reports in February of 2019 that the European Commission received information that different companies operating at different levels of the production and supply chain in the farm-raised Atlantic salmon market participate or participated in anti-competitive agreements and concerted practices with price coordination in order to sustain and increase the prices of Norwegian salmon.
Hausfeld and co-counsel filed the operative Consolidated Complaint in this litigation in June of 2019. The Complaint names as Defendants the following companies: Mowi ASA; Mowi USA, LLC; Marine Harvest Canada, Inc.; Ducktrap River of Maine LLC; Grieg Seafood ASA; Grieg Seafood BC Ltd.; Ocean Quality AS; Ocean Quality North America Inc.; Ocean Quality USA Inc.; Ocean Quality Premium Brands, Inc.; SalMar ASA; Lerøy Seafood AS; Lerøy Seafood USA Inc.; Cermaq Group AS; Cermaq Norway AS; and Cermaq US LLC. Plaintiffs allege these Defendants formed a cartel to fix and stabilize prices for farm-raised Atlantic Salmon entering commerce in the United States. The Class Period extends from April of 2013 to the present.
The United States Department of Justice commenced a criminal investigation against a number of these defendants in November of 2019.
The district court allowed limited discovery and a Second Consolidated Amended Complaint was filed in October of 2020. The Court denied a motion to dismiss that complaint in March of 2021 and set a schedule culminating in a trial to commence on May 22, 2023.
This litigation is before the Honorable Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga in the Southern District of Florida.