SEATTLE, Wash. — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that his office will be mailing checks to thousands of Washington households as a result of a successful lawsuit against chicken and tuna corporations that price-fixed.
On Dec. 6, Ferguson announced that $40.6 million in financial restitution will be going to households whose income is at or below 175% of the federal poverty level.
More than 1.2 million Washingtonians who reside in these households will receive checks:
Single-person households will get a $50 checkMulti-person households will get a $120 check
The first round of checks were mailed out on Dec. 5 and will continue to be sent out throughout the month. If you don’t receive a check by the end of the year and believe that you qualify, visit the Attorney General’s website.
Ferguson said. “Washington families were cheated by corporate price-fixing conspiracies they knew nothing about – and now those who felt this gouging most severely are receiving checks from my office. The holiday season puts a financial strain on families, and we hope Washingtonians are helped by these checks.”
These restitution checks are targeted to help those who were harmed by price-fixing of chicken and tuna products. Each family whose household is under the 175% of the federal poverty level will receive a check.
A family of five with a household income less than $61,495.A single parent raising three kids on an income of $52,500, or less.A single parent with two children making less than $43,505 per year.A single parent of one, or a retired couple living on two fixed incomes, that total less than $34,510.A retired individual who lives alone on a fixed income less than $25,515 per year.
If you fall under these requirements, the checks will be delivered in an official envelope that shows the official mailer as the Attorney General’s Office.
Approximately 134,100 single-person households will receive $50 checks and 268,100 households with two or more residents will receive a $120 payment.
This lawsuit was a result of 15 of 19 broiler chicken producers named in a 2021 price-fixing lawsuit. Broiler chickens are used for everything from chicken breasts to chicken nuggets and sandwiches.
These producers raised their price of chicken since 2008 and caused consumers to overpay by millions of dollars. The Attorney General’s Office investigation found a “coordinated, industry-wide effort to restrain production through the exchange of competitively sensitive information, signals during investor calls and direct coordination between players in the industry.”
The second part of this lawsuit was for tuna companies that began a price-fixing scheme. The three companies were StarKist, Chicken of the Seas and Bumble Bee Tuna.
These three executives began to price-fix their tuna stating that it was ‘“too cheap” and he wanted the price artificially increased on consumers.’
If there are questions about eligibility or the claims process in receiving these restitution checks, individuals can call (866) 601-1516 or send an email to refundcheck@atg.wa.gov.
