Shana E. Scarlett

Scarlett, a Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP partner, spent five years working to prove that big meat-processing corporations like Tyson and Foster Farms conspired to overcharge U.S. consumers.

“We represent the consumer class, the people who buy chicken and pork,” said Scarlett, who’s been with the firm for almost 15 years and serves as managing partner of the Berkeley office she helped establish.

In two separate cases, consumers alleged that big meat-processing corporations conspired to restrict the supply of and fix the price of pork and poultry in violation of federal and state consumer and antitrust laws. In re: Pork Antitrust Litigation (Indirect Purchaser Actions), Case No. 0:18-cv-01776 (D. Minn. Filed Jan. 15, 2020) and in re: Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation (End-User Consumer Action), Case No. 1:16-cv-08637 (N.D. Ill. Filed Aug. 7, 2020).

After years of deposing company executives and overseeing class certifications, Scarlett and her fellow co-lead counsels are getting the word out to millions of consumers who may be eligible to receive some of the $181 million settlement in the chicken case and the $20 million settlement in the pork case.

Part of that outreach includes administering OverchargedforChicken.com and OverchargedforPork.com. The websites spell out in plain language how people who bought these meats since 2009 can claim some of the massive settlements.

Scarlett’s expertise in antitrust and unfair competition litigation has resulted in significant recoveries for consumers in markets including electronic books, optical disk drives and lithium-ion batteries.

“There’s really one common thread, and that’s the fundamental belief that there’s a cartel conspiring to overcharge and pass it on to consumers,” she said. “It cuts across all of these industries and lets me bring a particular focus to my work. That’s my specialty.”

Scarlett has also represented animators in an antitrust class action case against companies including Disney and Sony, alleging a conspiracy to restrain competition to deprive employees of compensation and career advancement.

Beyond her caseload, Scarlett is co-authoring an antitrust Daubert handbook for the American Bar Association. She also speaks to law school students about the importance of antitrust litigation in the judicial system.

Notably, class action lawsuits put money back in the hands of consumers who have been overcharged by powerful corporations, she said.

“It’s gratifying to be on the side of justice,” she said. “I talk to students about what an enormous role we play in equalizing those scales.”

-- Jennifer McEntee