June 30 (Reuters) - Litigation financier Burford Capital

on Monday persuaded a U.S. judge to allow one of its

subsidiaries to press a price-fixing lawsuit accusing leading

turkey producers of overcharging prices, even though the company

has not purchased any food from them.

Chicago-based U.S. District Judge Sunil Harjani rejected

arguments from Tyson Foods ( TSN ), Perdue Farms, Hormel Foods ( HRL ),

Butterball and other producers that allowing Burford subsidiary

Carina Ventures to pursue the antitrust claims ran afoul of

public policy.

Litigation funders provide financial support to clients in

exchange for a part of any settlement or judgment. Burford is

the world's largest litigation finance provider.

In his ruling, Harjani said that "as litigation funders

continue to be involved in the legal system, the bounds of their

viability will be tested." But he said it was up to lawmakers to

craft policies restricting the extent of litigation funders'

participation in lawsuits.

Tyson, Perdue, Hormel and Butterball did not immediately

respond to requests for comment.

Burford declined to comment.

Burford's Carina sued the turkey producers in 2023, after

the funder acquired security rights to claims that were once

held by Burford client Sysco Foods.

Sysco was never a plaintiff in the turkey litigation, but

Burford has spent $140 million since 2019 backing antitrust

claims by food distributor Sysco against Tyson and other meat

processors in other cases.

Harjani said the turkey defendants have not provided any

evidence that Burford and Carina engaged in any misconduct.

The judge called Sysco a "large and sophisticated

corporation" that does not need the defendants or the court

second-guessing its business or litigation decisions.

Harjani said it was the job of Congress to write statutes

and rules governing federal litigation.

The case is In re: Turkey Antitrust Litigation, U.S.

District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, No.

1:19-cv-08318.

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