Sysco Accuses Burford Capital of Meddling in Antitrust Deals (1)

Sysco Corp. sued affiliates of Burford Capital Ltd., claiming the litigation finance firm is meddling in the food distributor’s efforts to settle several major antitrust cases in which it’s a plaintiff.

Burford obtained an arbitration ruling blocking Sysco from closing deals to resolve price-fixing lawsuits against major poultry processors and meatpackers, the company said in the suit filed Wednesday.

Burford, which invested $140 million in the price-fixing and related cases, says the settlements are too low compared to the value of the claims. Sysco accused the litigation funder of “prioritizing its greed over Sysco’s rights and interests as the plaintiff.” ...