Deere & Co. to Pay $99 Million to Settle Repair Monopoly Lawsuit
Deere & Co. will pay $99 million to settle a lawsuit alleging monopolization of farm equipment repair services.Summary
Deere & Co. has reached a $99 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit accusing the company of monopolizing repair services for farm equipment. The lawsuit alleged Deere withheld repair software and restricted independent repair options, forcing farmers to rely on authorized dealers and pay higher prices. While Deere denies any wrongdoing, they agreed to the settlement to focus on customer service. The settlement, pending court approval, will establish a fund for class members who paid for repairs between January 10, 2018, and the deal's approval date, and includes provisions to improve access to repair resources. This case is part of a broader 'right to repair' movement challenging restrictions on repairing products like smartphones and farm equipment.
(Source：Headtopics)