Case: 1:21-cv-02844 Document #: 1 Filed: 05/26/21 Page 1 of 4 PageID #:1
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`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
`EASTERN DIVISION
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`
` Case No: 1:21-cv-02844
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`Jury Trial Demanded
`(Related to In re Broiler Chicken
`Antitrust Litigation – Case No.
`1:16-cv-08637)
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`
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`WHATABRANDS LLC; and
`WHATABURGER RESTAURANTS LLC,
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`Plaintiffs,
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`v.
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`TYSON FOODS, INC.; TYSON CHICKEN,
`INC.; TYSON BREEDERS, INC.; TYSON
`POULTRY, INC.; PILGRIM’S PRIDE
`CORPORATION; KOCH FOODS, INC.; JCG
`FOODS OF ALABAMA, LLC; JCG FOODS
`OF GEORGIA, LLC; KOCH MEAT CO., INC.;
`SANDERSON FARMS, INC.; SANDERSON
`FARMS, INC. (FOOD DIVISION);
`SANDERSON FARMS, INC. (PRODUCTION
`DIVISION); SANDERSON FARMS, INC.
`(PROCESSING DIVISION); HOUSE OF
`RAEFORD FARMS, INC.; MAR-JAC
`POULTRY, INC.; PERDUE FARMS, INC.;
`PERDUE FOODS, LLC; WAYNE FARMS,
`LLC; SIMMONS FOODS, INC.; SIMMONS
`PREPARED FOODS, INC.; O.K. FOODS,
`INC.; O.K. FARMS, INC.; O.K. INDUSTRIES,
`INC.; HARRISON POULTRY, INC.; FOSTER
`FARMS, LLC; FOSTER POULTRY FARMS;
`CLAXTON POULTRY FARMS, INC.;
`MOUNTAIRE FARMS, INC.; MOUNTAIRE
`FARMS, LLC; MOUNTAIRE FARMS OF
`DELAWARE, INC.; AGRI STATS, INC.;
`CASE FOODS, INC.; CASE FARMS, LLC;
`CASE FARMS PROCESSING, INC.;
`KEYSTONE FOODS LLC; EQUITY GROUP
`EUFAULA DIVISION, LLC; EQUITY GROUP
`KENTUCKY DIVISION LLC; and EQUITY
`GROUP-GEORGIA DIVISION LLC,
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` Defendants.
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`
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`126112915.1
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`

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`Case: 1:21-cv-02844 Document #: 1 Filed: 05/26/21 Page 2 of 4 PageID #:2
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`COMPLAINT AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
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`Plaintiffs Whatabrands LLC and Whataburger Restaurants LLC (collectively,
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`1.
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`“WAB” or “Plaintiffs”) are Texas limited liability companies with their headquarters in San
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`Antonio, Texas. WAB owns, operates, and franchises more than 800 restaurants in Texas, New
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`Mexico, and the southern United States under the “Whataburger” brand.
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`2.
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`During the time period relevant to WAB’s claims, WAB directly purchased
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`Broilers in the United States from one or more of the Defendants and/or their co-conspirators, and
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`sustained injury and damages as a proximate result of the antitrust violations and other unlawful
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`activities alleged in this Complaint.
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`3.
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`WAB brings this action for damages under the federal antitrust laws against the
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`defendants identified below, and incorporates by reference Direct Action Plaintiffs’ Amended
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`Consolidated Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial [ECF Nos. 4243, 4244], filed in In re Broiler
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`Chicken Antitrust Litigation, 1:16-cv-08637 (N.D. Ill.) on January 29, 2021.1
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`4.
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`WAB joins Section II of the Direct Action Plaintiffs’ Amended Consolidated
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`Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial [ECF Nos. 4243, 4244], adding the following to specify
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`WAB’s causes of action and the Defendants and Co-Conspirators in WAB’s action.
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`1 Pursuant to the Court’s Orders in In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litig., 1:16-cv-08637, [ECF
`Nos. 3778, 3652, 3525], the Direct Action Plaintiffs filed an Amended Consolidated Complaint
`containing “all the allegations the Direct-Action Plaintiffs make against all Defendants” on
`January 29, 2021 [ECF Nos. 4243, 4244]. In an effort to promote efficiency given the Court’s
`recent reference to similar abbreviated Complaints as helpful to the Court [ECF No. 4139],
`Plaintiffs file this abbreviated pleading that incorporates by reference and adopts the allegations
`set forth in Direct Action Plaintiffs’ Amended Consolidated Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial.
`If the Court prefers a different form or process, Plaintiffs will withdraw this pleading and proceed
`according to the Court’s direction.
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`126112915.1
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`2
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`Case: 1:21-cv-02844 Document #: 1 Filed: 05/26/21 Page 3 of 4 PageID #:3
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`Plaintiff Names
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`Operative
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`Complaint
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`(Reference is to
`Sealed Version, if
`applicable)
`
`Named
`Defendants (Not
`Previously
`Dismissed)
`
`
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`
`
`Named Co-
`Conspirators (if
`any)
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`Causes of Action
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`Whatabrands LLC;
`Whataburger
`Restaurants LLC
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` To Be Determined
`
`Allen Harim
`Amick
`Fieldale Farms
`George’s
`Peco
`
`Agri Stats; Case;
`Claxton; Foster Farms;
`Harrison; House of
`Raeford; Keystone
`Foods; Koch; Mar-
`Jac; Mountaire Farms;
`O.K. Foods; Perdue;
`Pilgrim’s Pride;
`Sanderson Farms;
`Simmons; Tyson;
`Wayne Farms
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`
`
`
`
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`Case; Claxton; Koch;
`Mar-Jac; Perdue;
`Pilgrim’s Pride;
`Sanderson Farms;
`Tyson
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`Count I (Sherman Act
`Claim for all
`Anticompetitive Conduct);
`Count II (Sherman Act
`Claim for Output
`Restriction, Pled in the
`Alternative to Count I);
`Count III (Sherman Act
`Claim for GA Dock
`Manipulation, Pled in the
`Alternative to Count I)
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`Count LV (Sherman Act
`Claim for Bid Rigging,
`Pled in the Alternative to
`Count I)
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`PRAYER FOR RELIEF
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`WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request that the Court:
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`A.
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`Enter joint and several judgments against all Defendants in favor of Plaintiffs;
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`B.
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`Award Plaintiffs damages in an amount to be determined at trial to the maximum
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`extent allowed under federal antitrust laws, and enter a joint and several judgment in favor of
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`Plaintiffs against Defendants in an amount to be trebled to the extent such laws permit;
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`C.
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`Award Plaintiffs their post-judgment interest as provided by law, with such interest
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`to be awarded at the highest legal rate;
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`D.
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`Award Plaintiffs their attorneys’ fees, litigation expenses, and costs, as provided by
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`law; and
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`E.
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`Grant Plaintiffs such other and further relief that the Court may deem just and
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`proper.
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`126112915.1
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`3
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`Case: 1:21-cv-02844 Document #: 1 Filed: 05/26/21 Page 4 of 4 PageID #:4
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`JURY DEMAND
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`Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 38, Plaintiffs demand a trial by jury on all
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`issues so triable.
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`Dated: May 26, 2021
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`
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`
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`By: /s/ David B. Esau
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`
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`David B. Esau
`Kristin A. Gore
`Garth T. Yearick
`Amanda R. Jesteadt
`Stephen A. Cohen
`Casey R. McGowan
`CARLTON FIELDS, P.A.
`525 Okeechobee Boulevard, Suite 1200
`West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
`Tel: (561) 659-7070
`Fax: (561) 659-7368
`desau@carltonfields.com
`kgore@carltonfields.com
`gyearick@carltonfields.com
`ajesteadt@carltonfields.com
`scohen@carltonfields.com
`cmcgowan@carltonfields.com
`
`Roger S. Kobert
`CARLTON FIELDS, P.A.
`Chrysler Building
`405 Lexington Avenue, 36th Floor
`New York, New York 10174-3699
`Tel: (212) 785-2577
`Fax: (212) 785-5203
`rkobert@carltonfields.com
`
`Scott L. Menger
`CARLTON FIELDS, LLP
`2029 Century Park East, Suite 1200
`Los Angeles, CA 90067
`Tel: (310) 843-6300
`Fax: (310) 843-6301
`smenger@carltonfields.com
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`Counsel for Plaintiffs Whatabrands LLC and
`Whataburger Restaurants LLC
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`126112915.1
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`4
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