Monsanto Reaches Agreement in Principle over GM Wheat Contamination

In light of representations that the parties are close to settlement, a multidistrict litigation (MDL) court has continued to stay proceedings in litigation alleging that the isolated appearance of genetically modified (GM) wheat in Oregon, which purportedly led Japan and South Korea to suspend imports of soft-white wheat from the United States, caused wheat farmers to sustain economic losses. Barnes v. Monsanto Co., C.A., MDL No. 13-2473 (D. Kan., order entered September 10, 2014). Information about the lawsuit filed by Kansas farmer Ernest Barnes appears in Issue 486 of this Update. The court ordered the parties to file stipulations of dismissal of the soft-white wheat claims on or before September 29, 2014, or to submit a scheduling order, discovery plan and early mediation plan by November 7.

Issue 537