 |
| CLICK HERE TO VIEW CURRENT ISSUE |
 |
| Best of NAMA 2026 |
|
 |
|
FARMER URGES FEDERAL JUDGE TO DENY DEERE'S RIGHT-TO-REPAIR LAWSUIT AGREEMENT
Jul. 1, 2026
Agri-Pulse reports:
A Missouri farmer is asking a federal judge to deny a proposed $99 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over John Deere's repair practices.
In a filing submitted to the federal court in Illinois' Northern District on Monday, Missouri farmer Jared Wilson alleged the settlement "would cause manifest injury to the interests of every farmer in America."
He asserted that "by extinguishing farmers' rights of action against Deere's monopolization of repair markets for a slap-on-the-wrist in damages and ineffectual injunctive 'relief,'" the settlement would "strengthen Deere's repair monopoly instead of dismantling it."
Wilson said the average member of the class will "get, at best, a $400 check, remain under Deere's thumb, and see no meaningful change in their independence to repair their equipment." He urged Iain Johnston, the judge overseeing the case, to reject the proposed settlement, which was filed in April.
Keep in mind: Beginning in 2022, several farmers filed lawsuits against John Deere, accusing it of monopolizing the repair market for Deere-branded machines with onboard central computers, and these cases were consolidated into one proceeding in Illinois' Northern District. Deere denies the allegations.
Under the proposed settlement, Deere agreed to pay $99 million and make repair resources available to every owner, lessor and independent repair shop "on a license or subscription basis on fair and reasonable terms," according to a court filing. Once more than half of Deere dealer locations have access to those tools, the company will make future repair resources available to the same groups "on fair and reasonable terms," it says.
|
|
|
|
|
