Final Approval Given for $1.51 Billion Syngenta Nationwide Corn Class Action Settlement

On December 7, 2018, the settlement of the nationwide class action lawsuit (MDL n. 2591) against Syngenta related to its marketing and commercialization of Agrisure Viptera and Agrisure Duracade corn seeds was approved. The $1.51 billion settlement is believed to be the largest agricultural settlement in U.S. history. The Honorable John W. Lungstrum, a United Stated District Court Judge in the District of Kansas, gave final approval to the settlement reached in February 2018 that covers payments to U.S. corn growers, grain handling facilities and ethanol production plants who sold corn priced after Sept. 15, 2013. Per the settlement agreement, payments will likely go out in the second quarter 2019. However, this may be delayed if any appeals to the settlement approval are filed.