Monsanto Soft White Wheat Class Action Settlement

Monsanto Company has agreed to a class action settlement, resolving claims brought forth in a number of Monsanto soft white wheat lawsuits, which stemmed from the 2013 discovery of genetically-modified (GMO) wheat on an Eastern Oregon farm. This discovery led to a temporary limit on certain soft white wheat exports and has sprung severe legal action against Monsanto Co.

The subsequent Monsanto lawsuits were consolidated into one multidistrict litigation (MDL) known as In re: Monsanto Company Genetically-Engineered Wheat Litigation. All lawsuits filed under the Monsanto GMO wheat MDL allege the company failed to properly isolate their GMO soft white wheat in order to prevent the contamination of the larger U.S. soft white wheat supply.

The alleged contamination of the U.S. soft white wheat with Monsanto’s genetically modified soft white wheat resulted in a temporary discontinuation of certain wheat exports. The Monsanto soft white wheat class action lawsuits also allege famers residing in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington suffered damages because of the Monsanto GMO wheat contamination.

During the 2014 year, Monsanto agreed to a $2.375 million class action settlement, $2.125 million of which will be used to establish a Soft White Wheat Settlement Fund. Monsanto denies all liability in this GMO Wheat MDL, but has decided to settle in order to avoid the uncertainty and cost of continued court proceedings and trials.

Who’s Eligible

You are a Class Member of the Monsanto Soft White Wheat Class Action Settlement if you are:

“An owner, operator, landlord, tenant, sharecropper, landowner, or other persons who either shared in the risk of producing a soft white wheat crop or shared in the crop available for marketing that was sold or priced for sale between May 30th, 2013 and November 30th, 2013 from a farm in Idaho, Oregon, or Washington. You are not eligible to submit a Claim Form if you did not make the initial, first sale of soft white wheat.”

If you are not completely sure that you are an eligible Monsanto Settlement Class Member, you may seek more information at the Settlement Website or by reading the Monsanto Settlement Notice (PDF).

Potential Award

Varies

The amount each Class Member will receive from the Monsanto Settlement fund will depend on the date the soft white wheat (SWW) was sold and/or priced for sale.

Tier 1 Claims Price: Monsanto agrees to pay 12 cents per bushel for each bushel of SWW sold or priced for sale between May 30, 2013, and July 31, 2013.

Tier 2 Claims Price: Monsanto agrees to pay 10 cents per bushel for each bushel of SWW sold or priced for sale between Aug. 1, 2013, and Sept. 31, 2013.

Tier 3 Claims Price: Monsanto agrees to pay 8 cents per bushel for each bushel of SWW sold or priced for sale between Oct. 1, 2013, and Nov. 30, 2013.

Proof of Purchase

If you are an eligible Monsanto Class Member, you must submit a valid and complete Claim Form either online or by mail by March 31, 2015.

Claim Form

Claim Form Deadline

03/31/2015

Case Name

In re: Monsanto Company Genetically-Engineered Wheat Litigation, MDL No. 2473, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

Final Hearing

N/A

Settlement Website

www.SWWSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

SWW Plaintiffs v. Monsanto Company
Heffler Claims Group
P.O. Box 58700
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-8700
1-855-229-7512
info@hefflerclaims.com

Class Counsel

HAUSFELD LLP
TOUSLEY BRAIN STEPHENS PLLC
SCOTT + SCOTT, ATTORNEYS AT LAW LLP
WALTERS BENDER STROHBEHN & VAUGHAN P.C.

Defense Counsel

N/A