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Kansas federal court could limit damages in Viptera case

Plaintiffs in the first trial in multiple lawsuits rested their case in a Kansas federal court against Syngenta over its U.S. introduction of genetically engineered Viptera and Duracade corn before China approved it for import.

Syngenta attorneys filed a motion for judgment last week which was denied by the court. However, the judge did grant a motion on punitive damages which might impact how much money farmers could receive.

The first of two class-action lawsuits against the company on behalf of more than 7,000 farmers alleges Syngenta’s release resulted in China rejecting shiploads of corn leading to price drops that hurt growers.

Plaintiff’s lawyers say damage from the Syngenta sales range from about $5 billion to as much as $13 billion, but Syngenta says it was other market forces that drove down corn prices.

The second trial is to begin July 10th in Minnesota, Syngenta’s North American seed business headquarters, on behalf of 60,000 farmers.