Judge Dismisses Tyson Wage Suit

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that accused Tyson Foods Inc. of depressing wages by hiring illegal immigrants at its plant in Shelbyville.

The ruling does not affect a pending federal case in which the nation's largest meat processing company is accused of conspiring to smuggle immigrants into the country to work at Tyson plants.

The lawsuit dismissed Tuesday said Tyson used a scheme involving temporary employment agencies that persuaded illegal immigrants to work for the company.

The plaintiffs, four former hourly employees at Tyson's Shelbyville plant, planned to appeal, said their attorney Howard Foster.