Published
December 31, 2024
Updated
August 2, 2026
The $152.2 million packaged-tuna settlements cover qualifying end purchasers in specified jurisdictions. Claims are closed, and approved awards are now being calculated for an anticipated 2026 distribution.
Current Status
The claim deadline passed on December 31, 2024. The court approved the StarKist and Lion settlements on November 22, 2024, and the official site says the administrator is finalizing distribution calculations. Payments for approved claims are anticipated during the third quarter of 2026; they have not yet been announced as issued. A person who filed in the earlier Chicken of the Sea settlement did not need to submit a second claim.StatusDistribution Calculations in Progress
Claim DeadlineDecember 31, 2024 — Passed
Combined Settlements$152.2 Million
Expected PaymentsThird Quarter 2026
What Was the Packaged Tuna Lawsuit About?
End-purchaser plaintiffs alleged that packaged-tuna producers participated in a conspiracy from June 2011 through July 2015 to fix, raise, maintain, or stabilize prices at artificially high levels. They asserted federal and state antitrust and unfair-competition claims on behalf of consumers and other end purchasers. StarKist, Dongwon Industries, and the Lion companies denied many of the allegations and asserted defenses. The settlements avoided continued litigation and did not amount to admissions of wrongdoing.Which Settlements Make Up the $152.2 Million?
The current end-purchaser site reports combined settlements totaling $152.2 million involving StarKist, Dongwon Industries, the Lion companies associated with Bumble Bee, and the earlier Chicken of the Sea settlement. This combined figure is the total settlement value before approved fees, expenses, administration, and allocation among valid claims. It should not be divided by the number of cans purchased or treated as a guaranteed flat payment.Who Was Included?
The class covered qualifying residents of Arizona, Arkansas, California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Residence and the other class terms controlled; this was not a nationwide class for every tuna purchaser.Which Tuna Purchases Qualified?
A qualifying class member indirectly purchased packaged tuna in a can or pouch smaller than 40 ounces for personal end consumption, not for resale, from June 1, 2011 through July 1, 2015. Products made by a defendant, a current or former subsidiary or affiliate, or an alleged co-conspirator could qualify under the notice. Meal kits were excluded. The class did not use the later July 31 date applicable to the separate direct-purchaser proceeding.What If Someone Filed in the Earlier COSI Settlement?
The administrator carried forward claims filed in the earlier Chicken of the Sea, or COSI, settlement. A person with a valid COSI claim did not need to file again for the StarKist and Lion settlements. Someone who did not file in the earlier process had to submit a claim by December 31, 2024. That deadline has passed, so the claim portal should now be understood as historical even if old forms remain visible.Was Proof of Purchase Required?
The historical process did not require ordinary grocery receipts for the basic claim. Claimants supplied purchase information and certified eligibility under the claim form’s terms. The administrator could review claims, request clarification, reject duplicates, and apply the court-approved allocation process. The absence of a receipt requirement did not permit estimates unrelated to actual qualifying purchases, and it did not guarantee approval or a particular amount.What Happened in the Appeals?
The district court certified the end-purchaser class in 2019. Defendants appealed, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the class order in April 2022, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined review in November 2022. Those rulings concerned class certification. The later StarKist and Lion settlements still required their own notice and approval process, which culminated in court approval on November 22, 2024.When Will Payments Be Sent?
The official administrator’s current update says distribution calculations are being finalized and approved-claim payments are anticipated in the third quarter of 2026. That is an estimate, not confirmation that a payment has been authorized or delivered to a particular claimant. The amount will depend on the approved plan, net settlement funds, accepted purchase information, and the full pool of approved claims.What Should Claimants Do Now?
No new form is required from people whose claims are already on file unless the administrator requests additional information. Claimants should keep the confirmation from the COSI or 2024 process, watch the official website for a distribution notice, and make sure any response is sent through the administrator’s own channel. OpenClassActions cannot locate a claim, revise purchase data, or predict an individual award.Official Information
Review the latest information on the official Tuna End Purchaser settlement website website.
Case
In re Packaged Seafood Products Antitrust Litigation
Case Number
15-MD-2670 DMS (MSB)
Court
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
Purchase Period
June 1, 2011–July 1, 2015
Combined Settlements
$152.2 million
Court Approval
November 22, 2024
Expected Distribution
Third quarter 2026
Official Website
official Tuna End Purchaser settlement website
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