In a significant development for agricultural biotechnology litigation, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has upheld a $60 million attorneys’ fees plan related to the settlement of lawsuits over genetically modified (GMO) corn. This ruling stems from a broader $1.51 billion settlement negotiated to resolve claims that Syngenta AG’s introduction of GMO corn disrupted trade with China, thereby harming American farmers.
The appellate panel concluded that the challenging attorneys did not convincingly argue why the proposed allocation within their fee pool was flawed. This determination allowed the pre-existing apportionment plan to stand, according to the court’s opinion released on Wednesday.
This litigation originated after Syngenta’s decision in the early 2010s to commercialize GMO corn strains before securing Chinese regulatory approval. The resulting trade disruption led to numerous lawsuits from farmers and agribusinesses affected by the loss of a lucrative export market.
Further details can be accessed through the report from Bloomberg Law. This case underscores the complexities involved in large-scale, multi-party agricultural litigation and the significant financial stakes for legal professionals navigating these disputes.