PITTSBURGH — A casket manufacturer has agreed to pay a Pittsburgh-based competitor $17 million to settle claims it stole customers and employees and interfered with business operations.

Indiana-based Batesville Casket Co. will also pay $1.75 million to cover attorney fees for two employees who used to work for Matthews International.

Matthews sued Batesville claiming the company poached customers from its subsidiaries, York Group and Milso Industries.