Honey Producers, Importers Settle Duty Evasion Lawsuit
Three U.S. honey producers entered into settlements totaling more than $796,000 with a group of honey importers alleged to have taken part in a transshipment scheme to avoid antidumping duties on Chinese honey, according to a press release issued Nov.…
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14 (here) by Honey Solutions, a defendant in the case. Judge Joan Gottschall of the U.S. District Court in Chicago approved the settlements of the class-action lawsuit filed in 2013 (see 13042318) without assigning guilt. The lawsuit named 31 defendants total, according to a court document. Honey Solutions said Gottschall dismissed the “remaining aspects” of the putative class-action lawsuit that alleged several domestic honey producers took part in a transshipment scheme to dodge more than $180 million in AD duties on Chinese honey. Gottschall conducted a fairness hearing to approve the settlements, after defendants “vigorously contested claims throughout the litigation,” the press release says.