Judge dismisses beef producers’ antitrust suit

Judge dismisses beef producers’ antitrust suit

A federal judge in Minnesota has dismissed an antitrust lawsuit against major meatpackers, ruling the cattle ranchers’ claims lacked legal standing. 

In his decision, Judge John Tunheim said there are too many stages in the beef supply chain and too much time between the sale of cattle and the purchase by meatpackers to adequately establish standing for the Sherman Act and the Packers and Stockyards claims.  

The judge also dismissed the remaining state law claims.