MONTGOMERY, Ala., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The 11th Circuit Court
of Appeals, which affirmed the exoneration of Tyson Fresh Meats in a cattle
pricing case, has also ruled the plaintiffs must pay Tyson's court expenses,
the company reported today.
The three judge panel unanimously supported a district court decision,
ordering the plaintiffs -- five individuals and one corporation -- to pay
Tyson Fresh Meats more than $70,000 in expenses related to the trial held last
year in Montgomery, Alabama.
Last week the appeals court affirmed Judge Lyle Strom's decision to
reverse a jury verdict against Tyson Fresh Meats, a subsidiary of Tyson Foods,
Inc. (NYSE: TSN). They found Tyson did not violate the law through its supply
agreements with independent cattle producers and has legitimate business
reasons for entering into such agreements.
In the subsequent ruling on trial costs, the appeals court rejected the
plaintiffs' argument that the case was "close" and that they should be exempt
from paying Tyson's expenses. The appeals court wrote "this case was not a
close and difficult one" and noted the plaintiffs "lost every aspect ..." The
court found that "witnesses for both parties agreed Tyson had a number of
competitive justifications" for using marketing agreements. "The legal issues
were not particularly novel or difficult. Although it took a long time to
try, the case was not especially complicated."
Tyson Foods, Inc., founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale,
Arkansas, is the world's largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and
pork and the second-largest food company in the Fortune 500. The company
produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products, which are
marketed under the "Powered by Tyson(TM)" strategy. Tyson is the recognized
market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, providing
products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than
80 countries. Tyson has approximately 114,000 Team Members employed at more
than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world.
SOURCE Tyson Foods, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.tyson.com
CONTACT:
Gary Mickelson of Tyson Foods, Inc.,
+1-479-290-6111
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