Deere & Co. has agreed to pay $99 million as part of a settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit that accused them of monopolizing repair services. Deere withheld repair software and conspired with authorized dealers to force farmers to use their services for repairs, when they could otherwise fix tractors and other equipment themselves or use independent alternatives. Deere and its dealers then charged higher prices with no competition. The settlement funds are available for class members who paid Deere and its dealers for large agriculture equipment repairs between January 10th of 2018 and the date of the deal’s preliminary approval. The company still faces separate litigation from the Federal Trade Commission for similar charges. Deere continues to deny any wrongdoing saying they agreed to the settlement to move things forward.
