Montana Consumers Could Be Eligible for a Big Beef Settlement

Let's get this out of the way: no one in this case has admitted any wrongdoing or fault.

Now that that's out of the way, I have to admit that I was initially blown away by this story when I came across it but the more I started thinking about it, it got me wondering: "How often does this happen?"

Beef Lawsuit Settlement: What Happened?

A class action lawsuit claims that "several beef processors -- including HBS, Cargill, National Beef, and Tyson Foods -- entered into a market allocation agreement and stopped competing against each other for market share" according to OverchargedForBeef.com.

The alleged goal was to drive up prices and increase profit margins at the expense of beef consumers. Again, these are allegations but if true, how super messed up is that?

READ MORE: Here's The Deadline To Apply For A Smith River Float Permit

Here's where it gets interesting - only two of the defendants named in this case have agreed to a settlement. According to OverchargedForBeef.com, "Tyson Foods, Inc., and Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. (“Tyson”) and Cargill, Inc., Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation (“Cargill”), have agreed to Settlements totaling **$87.5 million** ($55 million from Tyson and $32.5 million from Cargill) to resolve the claims against them."

This is solely my opinion but if you're not guilty and don't want to admit any fault... why agree to pay so much? If you're so confident you weren't doing anything wrong, why agree to pay anything?

How To Get Money From The Beef Lawsuit Settlement?

If you purchased any of the eligible beef products named in the lawsuit in Montana between August 1, 2014 and December 31, 2019 (that's a long time, huh?), you can submit a claim form to receive compensation.

1. Search for beef products eligible for payment HERE.
2. Submit your claim form before June 30, 2026 HERE.