Dethroning Economic Kings: The Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 and its Modern Awakening

Abstract

In this Comment, I examine federal courts' hesitation to apply the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 to address the consolidation of the meatpacking industry. A currently pending case, Pickett v. IBP, represents an opportunity for federal courts to apply the Act to combat that consolidation, and I argue that Pickett-the first class action suit granted class certification under the antitrust provision of the Act-represents an opportunity for the judiciary to reform the meatpacking industry by addressing issues of equal access to the market.