The U.S. Department of Justice brought criminal antitrust charges against several poultry industry executives, including Pilgrim’s Pride executives Roger Austin and Bill Lovette, alleging participation in a conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for chicken sold to major restaurant chains and retailers. The case was unprecedented, proceeding to a third jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado after two prior mistrials—an extraordinary step in a criminal antitrust prosecution—and ultimately resulted in full acquittals for all remaining defendants.
DOAR was retained by the defense to provide trial strategy consulting, jury research, jury selection, trial graphics, and evidence presentation support. These services supported the defense teams’ efforts to evaluate how complex economic theories, industry dynamics, and contested communications evidence might resonate with jurors, and to present defense narratives clearly and coherently throughout a high-stakes and closely scrutinized trial.
