Appeals Court Affirms Verdict in Oklahoma Poultry Suit

A federal appeals court has upheld a $14.5 million judgment against an Arkansas poultry company in a lawsuit by Oklahoma poultry farmers.

A three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver voted unanimously last week to reject the appeal by O.K. Industries of Fort Smith.

An attorney for O.K. Industries did not immediately return a phone call for comment.

About 300 poultry farmers in southeastern Oklahoma filed the federal lawsuit in 2002, accusing the company of manipulating the price it paid them to grow chickens.

The farmers were awarded $21.1 million after winning the lawsuit in 2008, but the amount was lowered to $14.5 million by the federal judge in the case.