Farmers Nationwide Join in Syngenta Viptera Corn Lawsuits
St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) January 29, 2015 -- Farmers around the nation who believe they have suffered losses as a result of Viptera corn have joined forces through a multidistrict litigation.* The case, Syngenta AG MIR162 Corn Litigation (MDL 2591) now includes more than 200 actions in U.S. District Court in Kansas, according to a January 21, 2015 transfer order. The cases were consolidated in Kansas by order of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) in December of 2013, according to court documents.
Plaintiffs in the corn lawsuits against Syngenta include farmers from states around the nation, including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Tennessee, according to court documents. The cases were consolidated on the basis of the existence of common questions of fact “regarding Syngenta’s decision to commercialize the MIR162 genetically modified corn trait in the absence of Chinese approval to import corn with that trait,” according to the initial Transfer Order.** The plaintiffs include farmers and grain exporters “who suffered economic losses resulting from China’s refusal to accept MIR162 corn,” according to the same court document.
The most recent development in this case was the appointment of counsel, which took place at a January 21, 2015 scheduling conference, according to court documents. Four attorneys were appointed to co-lead counsel. The next item on the schedule for the Syngenta Viptera lawsuits is another scheduling conference set for February 3, 2015 at 10am, at which further scheduling items will be discussed, according to court documents.
Late in 2014, Reuters reported the Chinese government confirmed that it would now accept for import corn grown with Viptera and Duracade seed featuring the MIR162 genetic modification.*** While this announcement should prevent most of the losses projected for the coming corn-selling season, farmers and grain distributors are staying the course with current lawsuits in order to seek compensation for the losses they allegedly sustained during the previously season.**** The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) estimates that the American corn industry sustained economic losses of $2.9 billion as a result of Syngenta’s Viptera corn. And because of the interruption of the U.S. supply of corn to China, China found alternate suppliers in other countries to meet their import needs; this fact may have destabilized America’s corn with China into the future, according to the NGFA.
Attorneys handling Syngenta Viptera lawsuits believe that corn growers and other agricultural companies that sustained economic losses related to corn or other grains during the 2013-2014 growing season, whether they grew Agrisure Viptera seed or not, may qualify to file a Syngenta corn lawsuit. Vipterta corn attorneys are offering no-cost, no-obligation case review through their website, the Syngenta Viptera Corn Lawsuit Center.
Syngenta corn attorneys for the Onder Law are now accepting inquiries from corn farms and grain elevators, distributors, and exporters who have sustained economic losses related to corn or other grain farming, distribution, domestic sales, or export. The Onder Law Firm is a recognized leader in multi-district litigation and complex cases such as products liability and failure to warn cases. The firm is nationally-renowned for its work on window blind strangulation, and has notable expertise in fighting on behalf of individuals against powerful corporations. Agricultural business that have sustained losses related to corn are eligible for a free evaluation with a Syngenta corn lawyer, and may contact the firm through its Syngenta Viptera Corn Lawsuit Center website.
The Onder Law Firm also welcomes Syngenta Viptera inquiries from other law firms, either to handle these inquiries or work as co-counsel.
About The Onder Law Firm
Onder, Shelton, O’Leary & Peterson, LLC is a St. Louis based personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. Onder, Shelton, O’Leary & Peterson has represented clients throughout the United States, and other firms throughout the nation often seek its experience and expertise on complex litigation. It is a recognized leader in products liability cases such as window blind cord strangulation and pharmaceutical litigation. The Onder Law Firm’s Syngenta Viptera corn lawyers provide information to the public at syngentavipteracornlawsuitcenter.com.
*In Re: Syngenta Ag MIR162 Corn Litigation, U.S. District Court of Kansas, MDL No. 2591
**ksd.uscourts.gov/transfer-order-doc-1-2/
***reuters.com/article/2014/12/22/corn-china-idUSL3N0U62OL20141222, 12/22/14
****ngfa.org/2014/04/21/ngfa-estimates-up-to-2-9-billion-loss-to-u-s-corn-soy-in-aftermath-of-trade-disruption-with-china-over-detection-of-unapproved-syngenta-agrisure-viptera-mir-162-corn-2/, 4/21/14
Michael Gudeman, Gudeman Group, +1 (314) 614-8709, [email protected]
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