Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP Announces Pendency of Class Action Lawsuit in Fresh Milk Antitrust Litigation:

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May 19, 2015, 06:21 ET

OAKLAND, Calif., May 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP regarding the Fresh Milk Antitrust Litigation:

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Matthew Edwards v. National Milk Producers Federation, Case No. 11-cv-04766

TO: CONSUMERS OF MILK AND OTHER FRESH MILK PRODUCTS

Your rights may be affected by a class action lawsuit regarding your purchase(s) of milk and certain other fresh milk products. The lawsuit is pending before Judge Jeffrey S. White in federal court in Oakland, California ("Court"). This Notice is not an expression by the Court of any opinion as to the merits of any of the claims or defenses asserted by either side in this lawsuit.

What is this about?

This is an antitrust lawsuit alleging a nationwide conspiracy to limit the production of raw farm milk, thus artificially inflating the price of milk and other fresh milk products. In a class action, one or more individuals, called Plaintiffs, file suit on behalf of others with similar claims, called "the Class" or "Class Members." The Court has certified plaintiff classes as described in the section below. Plaintiffs allege that defendants National Milk Producers Federation, aka Cooperatives Working Together ("CWT"), Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Land O'Lakes, Inc., Dairylea Cooperative Inc., and Agri-Mark, Inc. (collectively, "Defendants") and its members have engaged in a nationwide conspiracy to limit the production of raw farm milk, through "early herd retirements," and thus increased the price of raw milk. Plaintiffs allege that this conspiracy artificially inflated, and continues to artificially inflate, the price of milk and other fresh milk products as listed below. Defendants deny any wrongdoing or liability for the claims alleged.

Who is a class member?

You are a class member if you are a consumer who, from 2003 through 2012, as a resident of Arizona, California, the District of Columbia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wisconsin, indirectly purchased milk and/or other fresh milk products (including cream, half & half, yogurt, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and/or sour cream) for your own use and not for resale. To be a class member, you must have purchased the milk indirectly, for example, through a grocery store or retailer.

How do I participate in this class action?

If you fall within the definition of one of the classes set forth above, you are a class member. IF YOU WISH TO REMAIN A CLASS MEMBER, YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO ANYTHING AT THIS TIME. As a class member, you will be bound by any judgment or settlement, whether favorable or unfavorable, in this lawsuit. Thus, you may participate in any monetary settlement or judgment that is favorable to the classes, and you may submit a Proof of Claim following such a settlement or judgment. No judgment or settlement has occurred at this time. You will also be bound by any unfavorable judgment which may be rendered in favor of Defendants. You may not have the right to seek exclusion from the class at the time of settlement or judgment.

The Court has appointed the law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, 1918 Eighth Avenue, Suite 3300, Seattle, Washington 98101 to represent the Class ("Class Counsel"). You will not be charged separately for these lawyers.

Any class member who does not request exclusion from being a class member may also enter an appearance through their own counsel at their own expense.

How do I exclude myself from the classes?

To be excluded, you must send a written request for exclusion from class membership to

Fresh Milk Products Antitrust Litigation Exclusions
c/o Gilardi & Co. LLC
P.O. Box 6002
Larkspur, CA 94977-6002

Your request must be received by July 14, 2015. After that date, you will not have the right to be excluded from class membership. In order to be valid, your request for exclusion must (i) set forth the name and address of the person or entity requesting exclusion, (ii) state that such person or entity requests exclusion from the classes in this lawsuit, and (iii) be signed and dated by such person or entity.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO BE EXCLUDED: (1) you will NOT be entitled to share in any recovery from any settlement or judgment that may be paid to class members as a result of trial or other resolution of this lawsuit; (2) you will NOT be bound by any judgment or release entered in this lawsuit; and (3) at your own expense, you MAY pursue any claims that you have by filing litigation.

How can I get more information?

This Notice does not fully describe all of the claims and contentions of the parties. Further information, including the operative complaint and court documents related to the certification of the class, is available at the Notice Administrator's website, www.freshmilkpricefixing.com or by calling toll-free 1-877-417-4561. You may also contact Class Counsel by calling 1-206-623-7292 or visiting www.hbsslaw.com.

Please do not contact the Court for information about this lawsuit.

Date: May 19, 2015
Oakland, California

BY ORDER OF THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP