CourtSupreme Court of British Columbia, Vancouver Registry
Date FiledFebruary 18, 2022
CO-COUNSEL Strosberg Wingfield Sasso LLP
Summary
The claim alleges that during the Class Period, the Defendants and their co-conspirators engaged in various unlawful practices that effectively severed the economic relationship between the price of cattle purchased by them for slaughter from the price of Beef sold in Canada. As a result, while the price the Defendants paid for cattle dropped, the supply of Beef was restricted and the price of Beef was fixed at an elevated, anti-competitive level, causing damages to the Plaintiff and Class Members, while increasing the profits of the Defendants and their co-conspirators.
Proposed Settlement with JBS and National Beef
A settlement was reached between the Plaintiffs and Defendants, JBS USA Food Company, Swift Beef Company, JBS Packerland Inc. and JBS Canada ULC and National Beef Packing Company, LLC on November 15, 2024 and July 15, 2025 respectively. The Court heard an application to certify the case for settlement purposes and provide notice to the class on September 10, 2025. The decision is still pending.
A hearing will take place on September 10, 2026 at which the Court will decide whether the Settlement is fair and should be approved.
At the hearing on September 10, 2026 counsel for the plaintiff is also bringing an application for approval of fees and disbursements.
The class action continue against certain Cargill and Tyson defendants on behalf of all persons in Canada who purchased Beef after January 1, 2015.
Potential class members who do not wish to participate as class members in the Canadian Beef class actions must opt out by August 10, 2026. To opt out, potential class members must send a signed written election to class counsel before the deadline. If class members do not opt out, they will be bound by any judgment or result in the class actions if they are certified against the other defendants.
Class members can submit a claim and learn more about the proposed settlement here.
Documents and forms related to the proposed settlement can be found on https://www.beefclassaction.ca/
An application for certification of the case against the non-settling defendants was heard on January 13-17 and 31, 2025. On October 23, 2025, the BC Supreme Court’s decision was released and can be found here.
The continuation of certification hearing is scheduled on September 11, 2026.