John Deere Construction and Forestry Equipment Repair Antitrust Lawsuit, Were You Affected? Christy Webber & Company v. Deere & Company, U.S. District Court, N.D. Ill.

John Deere is facing a new class action lawsuit — Christy Webber & Company v. Deere & Company — filed May 14, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, alleging anticompetitive repair restrictions on its construction and forestry equipment. The suit was brought by Christy Webber & Company on behalf of itself and others so situated, and alleges the same restrictions that drew years of legal scrutiny over farm equipment apply equally to owners of construction and forestry machinery. If you bought or leased John Deere construction equipment and paid a Deere-authorized dealer for repairs since May 2022, this case may directly affect you.

John Deere Construction Equipment Repair Lawsuit — Key Facts

Field	Detail
Lawsuit Filed	May 14, 2026
Defendant	Deere & Company (John Deere)
Plaintiff	Christy Webber & Company, Chicago, IL
Alleged Harm	Monopolization of repair services for construction and forestry equipment through software and diagnostic tool restrictions
Specific Law Alleged	Sherman Antitrust Act, Sections 1 and 2
Who Is Affected	U.S. owners of John Deere construction and forestry equipment who paid authorized dealers for repairs in the past four years
Class Period	Approximately May 2022 to present
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division — case number TBD, not yet publicly confirmed on PACER
Current Court Stage	Newly filed — class certification not yet sought
Lead Plaintiff Deadline	TBD — no deadline set at this early stage
Settlement Status	No settlement — active litigation only
Law Firms Involved	TBD — pending public disclosure
Last Updated	June 2, 2026

Who Is John Deere and Why Are They Facing a Construction Equipment Repair Antitrust Lawsuit?

John Deere is an Illinois-based heavy equipment manufacturer that produces a wide range of machinery including bulldozers, backhoes, skidders, and other construction and forestry equipment. The company operates one of the largest dealer networks in the United States and sells equipment to farmers, landscapers, construction contractors, and forestry operators nationwide. While Deere’s agriculture division settled a similar right-to-repair class action for $99 million in April 2026, the new lawsuit specifically targets Deere’s construction and forestry division — an equally large segment of its business that has received far less antitrust scrutiny until now.

What Did John Deere Allegedly Do to Construction and Forestry Equipment Owners Since May 2022?

The complaint argues that owners of heavy machinery such as bulldozers, backhoes, skidders and other construction and forestry equipment are effectively forced to rely on Deere’s authorized dealer network for repairs and replacement parts, because the company restricts access to the software required to diagnose and repair onboard electronic systems.

Christy Webber, a commercial, municipal and residential landscaping service based in Chicago, alleges the same situation occurs for owners of construction and forestry equipment as Deere C&F equipment owners. The company employs its own in-house mechanics but has been denied access to Deere’s “Fully Functional Tool” — a diagnostic software platform available only to authorized dealers. The result, the lawsuit claims, is that even basic repairs cost more and take longer than they should.

Webber has bought or leased about 50 pieces of Deere equipment, including wheel loaders, compact track loaders, excavators and skid steers, according to the lawsuit. The suit seeks relief and triple damages under the Sherman Antitrust Act, along with all legal expenses and a jury trial.

According to the lawsuit, the focus of antitrust enforcement against Deere to date has concerned the agricultural community, while similar restrictions affecting construction and forestry equipment owners have received far less attention. This case aims to change that.

For context on how John Deere’s agricultural repair restrictions already played out in court, the John Deere $99M right-to-repair settlement covering farm equipment owners shows the legal framework plaintiffs are now applying to the construction and forestry segment. Reuters reported in April 2026 that Deere’s farm equipment settlement drew attention from right-to-repair advocates across multiple industries, signaling that similar legal challenges in adjacent equipment categories were likely.

Deere said in a statement that it supported its customers’ ability to maintain and repair their equipment: “We remain committed to offering tools, resources and solutions that help customers keep their machines running safely, reliably and efficiently.” The company denies the allegations.

Related article: Florida’s First-in-the-Nation ChatGPT Lawsuit, Did OpenAI Put Profit Over Your Safety?

Are You Part of the John Deere Construction Equipment Antitrust Class Action?

Here is exactly how to know if this lawsuit covers you. The complaint targets all owners and lessees of John Deere construction and forestry equipment across the United States who paid Deere-authorized dealers for repairs or parts in the past four years.

You likely qualify if:

• You own or lease John Deere construction or forestry equipment — including excavators, wheel loaders, skid steers, compact track loaders, bulldozers, backhoes, or skidders
• You paid a Deere-authorized dealer for repairs or replacement parts at any point since approximately May 2022
• You were denied the ability to use your own mechanic or an independent repair shop because Deere’s diagnostic software was unavailable outside the dealer network
• You are based anywhere in the United States

You likely do NOT qualify if:

• Your equipment is John Deere agricultural machinery (tractors, combines, sugarcane harvesters) — those owners are covered by the separate $99M farm equipment settlement
• Your John Deere equipment is primarily residential lawn or turf equipment — the complaint focuses on commercial construction and forestry machinery
• You have not purchased repair services or parts from a Deere-authorized dealer within the class period

John Deere Construction Equipment Owners Outside Illinois — Are You Still Covered?

Yes. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois, the same federal venue as the lawsuits over farm equipment. Federal antitrust cases operate nationwide, so owners of John Deere construction and forestry equipment in all 50 states are potentially covered — your state of residence does not limit your ability to join this class action.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for the John Deere construction equipment antitrust lawsuit, a free consultation with an antitrust or consumer rights lawyer can help you evaluate your situation and preserve your options before any deadlines are set.

What Are John Deere Construction Equipment Owners Asking the Court to Award in the 2026 Antitrust Lawsuit?

The lawsuit seeks compensation for Deere customers who bought repair services and parts for construction and forestry equipment in the past four years, along with triple damages under the Sherman Antitrust Act. Triple damages are a specific remedy available under federal antitrust law — if a court finds a violation, it can award three times the actual harm suffered by class members.

The complaint does not name a specific total dollar amount, which is typical at this early stage of antitrust litigation.

What Could John Deere Construction Equipment Owners Receive If the 2026 Antitrust Case Settles?

No money is available yet. No claim form exists. What an eventual settlement or judgment might look like depends on the number of valid claimants, the strength of the evidence, how the court rules on class certification, and what the parties negotiate. In the comparable farm equipment case, the $99 million settlement fund was distributed to plaintiffs based on total labor hours spent on repairs since January 2018. A similar methodology could apply here, but it is impossible to predict at this stage. Consult an antitrust attorney to understand how your specific repair costs might factor into any future recovery.

What Should John Deere Construction Equipment Owners Do Right Now?

1. You do not need to do anything immediately to be included. Most class members are automatically part of a class action once it is certified. No immediate filing is required — and at this early stage, the class has not yet been certified.
   
2. Save your repair records now. Pull together every invoice, work order, or receipt from John Deere-authorized dealers going back to May 2022. Include records showing what was repaired, the labor hours charged, the parts used, and the total cost. These documents will be the foundation of any future claim.
   
3. Document any repair delays or denied access. If you were told you could not use your own mechanic or an independent shop because of software restrictions, write down the date, the machine, and what you were told. This kind of evidence directly supports the core allegation.
   
4. Understand the lead plaintiff role. If you had significant repair costs and want to take a more active role, you could potentially seek to become a class representative. That decision requires speaking with an attorney. No lead plaintiff deadline has been set yet in this case.
   
5. Monitor the docket. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. Public filings are available through PACER (pacer.gov). Search for Christy Webber & Company v. Deere & Company.
   
6. Consider your individual options. If your losses are substantial, a consumer rights lawyer can advise whether joining the class action or pursuing a separate claim makes more sense for your situation.

John Deere Construction Equipment Repair Antitrust Lawsuit Timeline

Milestone	Date
John Deere farm equipment right-to-repair lawsuits begin	January 2022
FTC files antitrust lawsuit against Deere	January 15, 2026
Alleged harm period begins (construction & forestry)	On or around May 2022
John Deere agrees to $99M farm equipment settlement	April 6, 2026
$99M farm equipment settlement receives preliminary approval	May 19, 2026
Construction and forestry class action filed by Christy Webber & Company	May 14, 2026
Farm equipment settlement objection deadline	September 14, 2026
Farm equipment final approval hearing	October 29, 2026
Class certification hearing (construction case)	TBD — not yet scheduled
Expected resolution (construction case)	TBD — early litigation stage

John Deere Construction Equipment Antitrust Lawsuit — Frequently Asked Questions, N.D. Ill., Eastern Division

Is there a class action lawsuit against John Deere for construction equipment repair restrictions right now? 

Yes. On May 14, 2026, Christy Webber & Company filed a class action lawsuit against Deere & Company in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, alleging violations of antitrust law for repairs of and parts for its construction and forestry equipment. The case is in its earliest stage.

Do I need to do anything right now to be included in the John Deere construction equipment class action?

 Not yet. Class membership is automatic once the court certifies the class. The most useful thing you can do right now is gather and preserve your repair invoices from John Deere-authorized dealers going back to May 2022. Acting early protects your ability to participate fully.

When will the John Deere construction equipment antitrust case settle? 

There is no way to predict that at this stage. The lawsuit was filed in May 2026 and has not yet been certified as a class action. Antitrust cases of this complexity typically take two to four years to resolve. The comparable farm equipment case took four years from filing to the $99M settlement.

Can I file my own lawsuit against John Deere for construction equipment repair overcharges instead of joining the class? 

Yes. An individual lawsuit is an option, particularly if your repair costs were large enough to justify it. A class action lawsuit attorney can evaluate whether a separate claim makes sense for your specific situation and losses.

How will I find out if the John Deere construction equipment lawsuit results in a settlement?

 Court filings are public record via PACER. You can also monitor AllAboutLawyer.com for updates as this case progresses. If a settlement is reached and you are a class member, the settlement administrator will mail you a notice.

What specific laws does John Deere allegedly violate in the construction equipment lawsuit? 

The lawsuit seeks relief and triple damages under the Sherman Antitrust Act — specifically Sections 1 and 2, which prohibit contracts that restrain trade and monopolization of a market. The core theory is that Deere used its control over diagnostic software to illegally foreclose competition in the repair services market for construction and forestry equipment.

How much could John Deere construction equipment owners receive from a future settlement?

 No money is available yet, and no claim form exists. If the case settles, compensation would likely depend on how much each class member paid in authorized dealer repair costs during the class period. The farm equipment settlement distributed $99 million based on total repair labor hours incurred since January 2018 — a construction settlement could use a similar formula, but that is purely speculative until a settlement is negotiated and approved.

What is the difference between the John Deere farm equipment settlement and this new construction lawsuit? 

The farm equipment class action — which Deere settled for $99 million on April 6, 2026 — involved agricultural machinery like tractors and combines. This new lawsuit covers construction and forestry equipment: excavators, wheel loaders, skid steers, bulldozers, backhoes, and skidders. They are separate cases covering separate groups of equipment owners, filed in the same federal court district.

Sources Used in This John Deere Construction Equipment Antitrust Lawsuit Article

• Capital Press — John Deere faces new lawsuit over repairs to construction, forestry equipment, June 1, 2026: https://capitalpress.com/2026/06/01/john-deere-faces-new-lawsuit-over-repairs-to-construction-forestry-equipment/

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against court filings reported by Capital Press, Equipment World, Manufacturing Dive, and Engineering News-Record. Last Updated: June 2, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.