A press release issued by the Department of Justice in regards to a settlement by Nebraska Beef has led to further conflict between the two. Nebraska Beef is objecting to the wording in the release, which described a settlement between the company and the Department over alleged hiring practices.
The Omaha World-Herald reports that Nebraska Beef is refusing to comply with the settlement, which includes a $200,000 civil penalty, because of the wording of the press release. Nebraska Beef says the phrasing in the federal agency’s press release “breached the settlement agreement by phrasing a press release differently from the language in the settlement agreement’s preface.”
In response, the Department has filed a lawsuit against the company in U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska. It claims that the agreement did not contain any “provisions restricting the language in the department’s press release.”
In the actual agreement, the Justice Department wrote “There is reasonable cause to believe that (the company) used documentary practices based on citizenship status in violation of the (Immigration and Nationality) Act.”
By contrast the Justice Department’s press release said the agency’s investigation “found the company required non-U.S. citizens, but not similarly situated U.S. citizens to present specific documentary proof of their immigration status to verify their employment eligibility.”
Nebraska Beef has denied any wrongdoing but agreed to pay the settlement to avoid spending money and time on litigation.
