Scott+Scott was appointed co-lead counsel representing cattle ranchers and futures traders alleging a conspiracy among the nation’s four largest meatpackers to suppress prices they pay ranchers for fed cattle. Plaintiffs allege that JBS, Tyson Cargill, and National Beef conspired to reduce or eliminate competition among them through two mechanisms: (i) they coordinated when, where, and how they purchased fed cattle in the weekly negotiated trade; and (ii) they collectively managed the volume of fed cattle they bought and harvested to ensure that their collective demand for fed cattle did not outstrip the supply of finished fed cattle. As a result of the conspiracy, meatpacker defendants paid lower prices for fed cattle than they would have in a competitive market. At the same time, those transacting in live cattle futures and options suffered significant harm. Plaintiffs allege that defendants’ actions violate the Sherman Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act.