Shook Partner Discusses “Meta” Class of Class Counsel After GMO-Rice MDL

In a May 5, 2015, Law360 analysis, Shook, Hardy & Bacon Partner
Andy Carpenter chronicles a “meta” class action against Riceland
Foods, Inc., a party to multidistrict litigation (MDL) stemming from the
use of genetically modified organism (GMO) rice, which several thousand
rice farmers alleged had tainted the U.S. rice supply. After Riceland
obtained a verdict in a cross-claim against Bayer and settled its portion
of the MDL, class-action counsel and plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against the
company to obtain compensation for their work, from which they argued
Riceland benefited when it received a judgment from Bayer. Carpenter
details the reasoning of the district court and the later affirmation from
the Eighth Circuit, discussing issues of jurisdiction and choice of law.

Issue 564