PORTLAND, Ore.—A class-action lawsuit against one of the country's largest seafood processors has taken a hit, after a judge said the plaintiffs failed to show the company used its enormous market share to suppress prices paid to fisherman.
In fact, U.S. District Court Judge Owen Panner said in a ruling Tuesday, the evidence indicates Pacific Seafood has expanded the market for whiting, and that fishermen have been getting better prices as a result.
Prices paid to fishermen are at the heart of the lawsuit filed by two southern Oregon commercial fishermen against the seafood giant, The Oregonian reports.
The suit accuses Pacific Seafood of using that market share and coordination with other processors to drive down prices paid to fishermen. Such practices would violate federal anti-trust laws.
Pacific Seafood has denied the allegation. A trial is scheduled to begin in February 2012.
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