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This settlement is closed!
Please see what other class action settlements you might qualify to claim cash from in our Open Settlements directory!
UPDATE:
- The Mountaire Farms class action settlement was granted final approval April 12, 2021.
- Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.
Mountaire Farms’ parent company will pay $65 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging its Millsboro, Delaware, poultry processing plant contaminated the groundwater and air.
Anyone who, on or after May 1, 2000, owned, leased, resided on, or were employed full time at a property lying in whole or in part within the Groundwater Area, and not the Air Area; at a property lying in whole or part within the Air Area, but not the Groundwater Area; and at a property lying whole or part within both the Groundwater Area and the Air Area may be eligible to benefit from the Mountaire Farms settlement.
A map of the areas in question is available on the settlement website.
Mountaire Farms is part of Mountaire Corp., an agricultural food production and processing company employing nearly 10,000 people at facilities in five states. According to the company’s website, it is the sixth-largest U.S. chicken company.
The plaintiffs filed their class action lawsuit in 2018, allegeging Mountaire Farms and Mountaire Corp.’s other subsidiaries generate more than 2 million gallons of sludge and wastewater each day, according to Law360. That wastewater — which contains blood, fecal matter, feathers, animal fat, and other contaminants — then allegedly enters the plaintiffs’ properties.
A Delaware judge imposed $28,320 in sanctions against Mountaire Corp. in June 2020 after the company over-redacted documents that were produced during the discovery phase of the class action lawsuit.
The amount awarded to individual Class Members in the Mountaire Farms settlement will depend upon how many people submit a valid claim, as well as the severity of the Class Member’s injuries and damages. Each person with a valid and timely claim will receive a portion of the $65 million after attorneys’ fees, notice costs, and other expenses are paid.
As part of a separate case in federal court, Mountaire Farms also has agreed to take action to prevent future groundwater harm and reduce air emissions, in addition to providing residents a means of making air pollution complaints and receiving updates on them.
Those actions include continuing to provide some residents with bottled water, installing a minimum of 60 acres of phytoremediation, establishing a process for responding to odor complaints, and “refraining from land application of sludges and biosolids pending certain wastewater treatment upgrades,” according to the current settlement notice.
A fairness hearing on the Mountaire Farms class action settlement is scheduled for April 12, 2021.
The deadline to object to the settlement is Feb. 22, 2021.
To benefit from the settlement, Class Members must complete and submit a Registration Form online or postmarked on or before March 22, 2021.
Who’s Eligible
Anyone who, on or after May 1, 2000, owned, leased, resided on, or were employed full time at property lying in whole or in part within the Groundwater Area, and not the Air Area; at property lying in whole or part within the Air Area, but not the Groundwater Area; and at property lying whole or part within both the Groundwater Area and the Air Area.
Potential Award
Varies.
The amount awarded to individual Class Members in the Mountaire Farms settlement will depend upon how many people submit a valid claim, as well as the severity of the Class Member’s injuries and damages. Each person with a valid and timely claim will receive a portion of the $65 million after attorneys’ fees, notice costs, and other expenses are paid.
Proof of Purchase
No proof of purchase is necessary, but claimants must fill out a registration form including the property address or addresses wholly or partly you owned, leased, resided on, or were employed full-time at within the class area at any point since May 1, 2000.
Claim Form
NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.
Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.
Claim Form Deadline
03/22/2021
Case Name
Gary and Anna-Marie Cuppels et al. v. Mountaire Corp. et al., Case No. S18C-06-009 in the Superior Court for the State of Delaware
Final Hearing
04/12/2021
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
Cuppels v. Mountaire Corporation Class Action Settlement Administrator
c/o RG/2 Claims Administration LLC
P.O. Box 59479
Philadelphia, PA 19102-9479
(844) 951-2344
info@rg2claims.com
Class Counsel
Chase Brockstedt
BAIRD, MANDALAS, BROCKSTEDT LLC
Defense Counsel
Michael W. Teichman
PARKOWSKI, GUERKE & SWAYZE PA
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
12 thoughts onMountaire Farms Parent Co. Pollution $65M Class Action Settlement
any new updates??? they said that they will send determinations in late April.. it is now mid may.. still nothing…
Any one receive login information bay mail or email yet ?