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John Deere right-to-repair lawsuits to move forward

Antitrust lawsuits filed by farmers against John Deere will proceed after a federal judge in Illinois rejected the company’s motion for dismissal.

John Deere had asked the U.S. District Court in Northern Illinois to dismiss the case, claiming that it has neither deceived nor surprised farmers with its longstanding repair restrictions. The judge’s ruling allows right-to-repair claims from more than 17 farmers to move forward.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a statement of interest in the case expressing concern that if the court ruled in favor of John Deere, it would

violate the Sherman Antitrust Act by preventing farmers and independent repair shops from performing certain repairs on John Deere farm equipment.

John Deere signed a right-to-repair memorandum of understanding with the American Farm Bureau Federation in January, an agreement that aimed to formalize farmers’ access to diagnostic and repair codes, as well as manuals and product guides. It also ensured farmers would be able to purchase diagnostic tools directly from John Deere and receive assistance from the manufacturer when ordering parts and products.