Attorneys at Coplan & Crane are answering questions and reviewing potential Syngenta lawsuits filed on behalf of farmers and others over lost income caused by a downturn in the market price for corn. Lawsuits already filed allege farmers, investors and others in corn-related business suffered financial losses because of the conduct by a Swiss agricultural company, Syngenta, in marketing, distributing and selling unapproved genetically modified (GMO) corn seed.
Farmers in Illinois and across the country are coping with billions of dollars in losses after Syngenta created an unacceptable risk by introducing its Agrisure Viptera seed-also referred to as “MIR162”-into the market. Farmers, exporters, and distributors who were misled by Syngenta into believing China would allow corn shipments into the country may be entitled to take legal action against Syngenta.
We protect the rights of businesses in the corn industry that may have been harmed by China’s rejection of corn and dried distiller’s grains (“DDGs”) shipments in 2013. If you want to know if you need to file a lawsuit, call us immediately. We are prosecuting mass tort lawsuits in Syngenta Viptera corn litigation.
How Syngenta’s Actions Hurt Farmers
In 2013, China-the world’s second largest corn importer and consumer-refused to accept Syngenta’s MIR162 strain of corn, which was manufactured to be resistant to certain pests, including the corn earworm, armyworm, cutworm and corn borer. The Chinese government’s decision resulted in a reduction of worldwide corn prices. While China did begin allowing Agrisure Viptera to be imported in December 2014, the damage already had been done to the U.S. corn industry. In 2012 and 2013, corn prices hovered around $7 and $8 a bushel. China began rejecting U.S. corn imports in September 2013, and by October 2014, the price for corn dropped to $3.25 a bushel.
We believe Syngenta should be held liable for the financial losses because the company misled farmers and investors into believing China would approve the GMO corn “within the matter of a couple of days,” according to an April 2012 earnings call by Syngenta. The company began marketing and selling Viptera to farmers, even though its executives and sales staff knew China had not approved Viptera for import. Reports stated that China ultimately either destroyed multiple shipments of GMO corn from the United States or rejected shipments altogether.
A second liability issue involves the mixing of Syngenta’s MIR162 corn with other types of corn. While only a few farmers use Syngenta’s product, the commingling of these grains meant that China and other countries that did not approve of the use of GMO corn seed refused to accept shipments. It wasn’t just the corn producers who grew Syngenta’s product who were financially harmed. All industries involved in growing, selling, transporting, and exporting U.S. corn lost income because of Syngenta’s actions.
How to Determine Liability in a Syngenta Corn Seed Legal Action
To prove Syngenta acted negligently, attorneys for farmers and other plaintiffs will have to show the profit loss was due to Syngenta’s misleading practices. Syngenta denies any wrongdoing, and these cases are expected to be complex. Syngenta’s attorneys likely will argue other factors created a drop in corn prices.
We believe Syngenta created an economic crisis that has devastated American farmers and other business in the agricultural industry. At Coplan & Crane, our highly experienced and aggressive attorneys know how to handle some of the most difficult cases involving well-funded defendants. If you or someone you know has been affected by declining corn prices, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact us for a free case evaluation today. Call 800-394-6002 or contact us online. Clients are not responsible for upfront costs. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay legal fees if there is a recovery.
