On the heels of a lawsuit filed earlier this month by a New York-based foodservice distribution company accusing 14 poultry processors of manipulating supplies to maintain high prices, lawyers at Hagens Berman filed a class action lawsuit in northern Illinois this week accusing U.S. chicken processors of “killing chickens and destroying eggs to limit production in a scheme to boost prices.”

Per a law firm press release, managing partner Steve Berman stated, “For years, these major food corporations sought to take full control of the market to squeeze every penny they could from hard working consumers, and they broke federal laws and killed thousands of chickens to do so. Instead of honest competition, these agribusinesses chose to cheat the system, killing off flocks and destroying eggs to limit the amount of production and pass the buck to millions of Americans.”

The complaint highlights a history of government investigations and alleged collusive behavior within the broiler industry. The complaint also claims poultry executives had the opportunity to “facilitate their conspiratorial conduct” at trade association meetings, investor conferences and plant tours.

In an email to meatingplace.com, Pilgrim’s Pride (one of the named defendants) spokesman Cameron Bruett stated, “Pilgrim’s is aware of the complaint and strongly denies any allegations of market manipulation. The company welcomes the opportunity to defend itself against these claims through the legal process.”

A copy of the complaint is available here.