Judge J. Ronnie Greer, presiding Judge in the Southeast Milk Litigation, has quickly entered his Order authorizing Distribution of Dean Foods Settlement Payment #4.
The Order was entered on the Court's record on July 21, 2015, and followed in short order a Motion for Distribution, filed just a week prior on July 15, 2015, with the Greeneville District, Eastern Division, U.S. Federal Court in Greeneville, TN.
According to court sources, this entry indicates that dairy farmers and class members in Federal Milk Marketing Order 5 (Appalachian) and Federal Milk Marketing Order 7 (Southeast) will likely receive their prorated settlement payments before the end of August, 2015.
As with previous payments, this $20 Million settlement payment will have various court-related expenses and administration fees deducted, then be distributed with approximately 2/3 (over $12 million) to be paid to over 6000 class members/farmers, and 1/3 ($6.66 million) designated for the plaintiff's attorney teams, Baker- Hostetler of Washington, DC, and Brewer & Terry, of Morristown, TN.
Payment amounts to individual class members will be similar, but not exactly equal to, those received in Payment #3, distributed in November of 2014. Prorated portions of class members will be based on pounds of class-defined milk, which were previously approved in earlier payment cycles. Class members do not need to file any additional paperwork.
The only hold-up at this point would be some very unexpected legal action filed with the Court.
The Dean Foods Settlement in the Southeast Milk Litigation was finalized and approved via Court's Orders of February 14, 2012, June 15, 2012, and January 8, 2013. Three previous payments have been distributed to Farmer plaintiffs / Class members. One payment remains, scheduled for the summer or fall of 2016.
The Dean Settlement Agreement and terms of payment, finalized in January of 2013, differs from separate agreements reached with Southern Marketing Agency (SMA), and Dairy Farmers of America and Related Entities, (DFA) Settlement Agreement in the Southeast Milk Litigation. Those Agreements involved differing terms of payment and injunctive relief.
For more information concerning the Southeast Milk Litigation, many court documents and authorized information pieces may be accessed at www.southeastdairyclass.com.
Source: AgriVoice
7.24.2015