Ohio gets 850 claims for share of road-salt price settlement

COLUMBUS AP) — More local governments and other public entities have submitted claims for a share of Ohio’s $11.5 million settlement with rock salt producers accused of conspiring to drive up prices.

The attorney general’s office says about 850 entities filed claims by the extended deadline on Friday, including cities, townships and universities.

The state had alleged that Morton Salt Inc. and Cargill Inc. agreed not to compete with each other to inflate prices, leading to governments paying above-market prices for rock salt to de-ice roads, highways and bridges.

The settlement announced in June ends that lawsuit. The claims process was open to public entities in Ohio that bought salt from Chicago-based Morton and Minnesota-based Cargill between July 2008 and July 2011.

Both companies denied any wrongdoing.