AWG alleges that beginning no later than May 2004, and continuing through at least July 2015, the Big 3 colluded by secretly exchanging price information and business plans, coordinating price announcements, and collectively reducing quantity and restraining output. The plaintiff contends that in turn, it paid "dramatically increase[d]" prices for canned tuna. The complaint notes that the conspiracy was only unveiled after the U.S. Department of Justice began to investigate the industry, initially when defendant Thai Union Group PCL, Tri-Union's parent entity, announced its intent to acquire Bumble Bee for $1.5 billion in late 2014. The investigation, still ongoing, has resulted in multi-million dollar criminal fines levied against the companies and several criminal sentences against executives, like former Bumble Bee CEO Christopher Lischewski. In another class action, the seafood producers appealed the trial court's grant of class certification to the Ninth Circuit.