The farmers feel they were shortchanged over $18 million in a three-year span.

ROCKLAND (AP) – Wild blueberry growers who won a class-action lawsuit against three eastern Maine processors they accused of price-fixing have asked a judge to freeze $61 million in company assets.

William Robitzek, an attorney for the growers, filed the paperwork Monday in Knox County Superior Court.

If Justice Joseph Jabar grants the request, any bank or other party holding assets of Cherryfield Foods Inc., Jasper Wyman & Son of Milbridge and Allen’s Blueberry Freezer of Ellsworth would have to freeze the companies’ accounts.

Attorneys for the defendants are expected to file their opposition to the growers’ motion within three weeks.

Robitzek’s motion seeks appointment of a trustee to manage the attachment process.

Melissa Hewey, an attorney representing Cherryfield Foods, expressed surprise at the growers’ action in seeking an asset freeze.

“I don’t see that that’s in anybody’s best interests. It doesn’t help the growers, the processors or the state of Maine,” she said.

Robitzek could not be reached immediately for comment.

The jury’s award of $18.6 million in damages represents the amount the growers contend they were shortchanged between the 1996 and 1999 seasons.

Based on that, the interest alone has been calculated at more than $5 million as of Dec. 1, Robitzek said in the motion.

Robitzek said the damages would be trebled because of the case’s antitrust component, but that has not yet occurred.

The 500 Maine growers were represented as a group in the lawsuit, which charged that Maine’s three largest processors conspired to depress prices paid to the growers in the late 1990s. The processors have denied any price fixing.