Jenner & Block Lawyers Secure Verdict Holding Nation's Largest Egg Producers and Industry Groups Liable for Conspiring to Inflate Egg Prices
News
November 21, 2023
After a five-week trial, a federal jury in Illinois found that two of the largest egg producers in the nation, Cal-Maine Food and Rose Acre Farms, and two egg trade groups, United Egg Producers and United States Egg Marketers, are liable for conspiring to inflate the prices of eggs from the late 1990s through at least 2008.
Our clients, Kraft Heinz Co., Kellogg Co., General Mills Inc., and Nestle USA Inc., sued the defendants in 2011 for their antitrust violations. The price-fixing scheme involved various measures to restrict the egg supply such as prematurely slaughtering still-productive hens.
This verdict is the first holding these businesses liable for their actions. Two other sets of egg buyer plaintiffs failed to convince juries that the producers fixed the price of their eggs. Likewise, a similar matter involving price-fixing allegations for broiler chickens also failed before a jury in Chicago on October 26.
US Judge Steven Seeger, who presided over the case said, “The lawyering here is as good as any lawyering I’ve ever seen on the bench. I told you at the outset of the case that I wanted to see Major League Baseball, and you all delivered an All-Star game.”
The trial was split into two phases earlier this year and the damages phase begins on Wednesday, November 29.
The Jenner & Block trial team was led by Brandon Fox, Annie Kastanek, Angela Allen, Michael Brody, Amy Gallegos, Joel Pelz, Sati Harutyunyan, John VanDeventer, Christopher Sheehan, Margaret Hlousek, Christian Plummer, Reanne Zheng, and Matthew Summers. They received support from James Malysiak, Alex Romain, Terrence Truax, Ali Alsarraf, Adam Abdel-Mageed, Elizabeth Baldridge, Savannah McNeily, Zoe Reinstein, and Steven Tinetti.
Read Law360’s coverage of the case here and Bloomberg’s here.
Related Attorneys
Related Capabilities
Related Locations
© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.
News
November 21, 2023
After a five-week trial, a federal jury in Illinois found that two of the largest egg producers in the nation, Cal-Maine Food and Rose Acre Farms, and two egg trade groups, United Egg Producers and United States Egg Marketers, are liable for conspiring to inflate the prices of eggs from the late 1990s through at least 2008.
Our clients, Kraft Heinz Co., Kellogg Co., General Mills Inc., and Nestle USA Inc., sued the defendants in 2011 for their antitrust violations. The price-fixing scheme involved various measures to restrict the egg supply such as prematurely slaughtering still-productive hens.
This verdict is the first holding these businesses liable for their actions. Two other sets of egg buyer plaintiffs failed to convince juries that the producers fixed the price of their eggs. Likewise, a similar matter involving price-fixing allegations for broiler chickens also failed before a jury in Chicago on October 26.
US Judge Steven Seeger, who presided over the case said, “The lawyering here is as good as any lawyering I’ve ever seen on the bench. I told you at the outset of the case that I wanted to see Major League Baseball, and you all delivered an All-Star game.”
The trial was split into two phases earlier this year and the damages phase begins on Wednesday, November 29.
The Jenner & Block trial team was led by Brandon Fox, Annie Kastanek, Angela Allen, Michael Brody, Amy Gallegos, Joel Pelz, Sati Harutyunyan, John VanDeventer, Christopher Sheehan, Margaret Hlousek, Christian Plummer, Reanne Zheng, and Matthew Summers. They received support from James Malysiak, Alex Romain, Terrence Truax, Ali Alsarraf, Adam Abdel-Mageed, Elizabeth Baldridge, Savannah McNeily, Zoe Reinstein, and Steven Tinetti.
Read Law360’s coverage of the case here and Bloomberg’s here.
Related Attorneys
Related Capabilities
Related Locations
© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.
News and Insights
Event
Associate Steven Arango to Speak at the Veterans' Legal Career Fair
On September 18, Associate Steven Arango will speak on a panel at the Veterans' Legal Career Fair (VLCF), the only legal career fair in the United States dedicated to veterans, active-duty service members, and military spouses.
September 18, 2026
Publications
In American Banker, Partner Laurel Loomis Rimon Weighs in on OCC's Handling of Fintech Bank Charter Applications
Partner Laurel Loomis Rimon spoke with American Banker about how the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is approaching bank charter applications from fintechs, amid a growing wave of companies seeking charters from federal regulators.
August 18, 2026
Event
Partner David Greenwald to Speak at PLI Program on Privilege and AI
On August 17, David Greenwald will speak at "Fitting New “Tech” Into the Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Protection," a virtual program hosted by the Practising Law Institute (PLI).
August 17, 2026
Publications
Special Counsel Kimberly Cook Featured in FCBA Member Spotlight
The Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) featured Kimberly Cook in its Member Spotlight series.
August 13, 2026
Recognition
Three Jenner & Block Partners Named to Crain's New York Business' 2026 Notable Leaders in Accounting, Consulting & Law List
Crain's New York Business recognized Jenner & Block Partners Anthony Barkow, Alison Stein, and Damian Williams among its 2026 Notable Leaders in Accounting, Consulting & Law.
August 10, 2026
Publications
In Law360, Trump Debarment Threat Calls for Targeted Defense Plan
Partners Ashley Callen and David Robbins authored an article for Law360 examining how entities should respond when suspension or debarment is threatened directly by the president, rather than initiated through the usual agency-driven process.
August 6, 2026