Lawsuit Settled: Deere Agrees to $99M Fund in U.S. Repair Fight
Deere agreed on Monday to pay $99 million into a settlement fund tied to a lawsuit over repair costs and access for farms and farmers in the United States. The lawsuit is part of a wider right-to-repair dispute over who can fix large agricultural equipment and what tools are available to do it. The proposed deal was filed in federal court in Chicago and still needs a judge’s approval.
Settlement Terms Put the Lawsuit on a Path to Closure
The settlement fund covers eligible plaintiffs who paid Deere’s authorized dealers for repairs to large agricultural equipment beginning in January 2018. Deere also agreed to make available for 10 years the digital tools required for maintenance, diagnosis, and repair of large agricultural equipment, including tractors, combines, and sugarcane harvesters. The filing says the settlement is meant to address the issues raised in the 2022 complaint and end the case with no finding of wrongdoing.
That makes this lawsuit a major step in a broader fight over repair access, especially for farmers who say the cost and pace of repairs can be shaped by who controls the tools and software. The court filing places the agreement in the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
What the Filing Says About Damages and Relief
The material filed with the court says the $99 million fund would be used to pay eligible class members and reimburse attorneys for costs, fees, and expenses tied to the settlement. It also says the agreement would allow farmer class members to preserve their right to sue Deere for damages. In the same court materials, the plaintiffs’ expert estimated overcharge damages in the range of $190 million to $387. 3 million.
The filing also says the relief would be provided for a 10-year period by no later than December 31, 2026. That timeline gives the lawsuit a long tail even as the settlement moves toward possible approval.
Immediate Reactions From Deere and the FTC Case
Deere said in a separate statement that the settlement “addresses the issues raised in the 2022 complaint and brings this case to an end with no finding of wrongdoing. ” In another court filing from April, the U. S. Federal Trade Commission said Deere was blocking farmers from acquiring the “tools and information necessary to repair their equipment in a timely and cost-effective manner. ” Deere has denied that wrongdoing.
Denver Caldwell, vice president for aftermarket and customer support at Deere, said John Deere Operations Center PRO Service is designed to improve customers’ ability to care for their equipment when and how they want. He said the settlement reaffirms Deere’s commitment to customer choice and access to the tools that enable it.
What Happens Next
The proposed agreement is not final yet and still requires a judge’s approval. If approved, the lawsuit would close a significant chapter in the repair-services antitrust fight, while the separate FTC case remains active and continues to put Deere’s repair practices under scrutiny. For farmers watching the lawsuit, the next development will be whether the court signs off on the settlement and how quickly the promised tools and fund reach eligible class members.
