A Kentucky Farm group has filed a Syngenta GMO corn class action lawsuit against Syngenta Corp., alleging Syngenta has contaminated the U.S. corn supply with their MIR162 GMO corn, which has resulted in the loss of profits for this farm, other Kentucky farms, and corn farmers across the nation.

The plaintiff Moss Farms is in the business of planting, growing, harvesting, and selling of corn in and outside the United States. The plaintiffs claim Moss Farms does not buy Syngenta’s MIR162 GMO corn, but instead only buys non-GMO corn or GMO corn that has genetically modified traits approved by major corn importing countries, such as China.

According to the Syngenta GMO corn class action lawsuit, Moss Farms alleges they have been damaged by: “(1) Syngenta’s release of Viptera corn into the U.S. corn and corn seed supply, which has destroyed the export of U.S. corn to China and caused depressed prices for all domestic corn; (2) Syngenta’s materially misleading statements relating to the approval status of MIR162 in China and the impact the lack of approval would have on the market; and (3) Syngenta’s widespread contamination of the U.S. corn and corn seed supply with MIR162, which will continue to foreclose the U.S. export market to China in future years and will continue to lead to lower corn prices per bushel in the U.S. market, as a result.”

This GMO corn class action lawsuit brings several allegations against Syngenta, including claims of Violation of Lanham Act, public nuisance, trespass to chattels, common law negligence, product liability, failure to warn, and tortious interference with prospective business relationships.

Moss Farms is asking the court for relief in the form of certification of the class and Kentucky subclass, a preliminary and permanent injunction against Syngenta, monetary damages, and payment of court fees.

Moss Farms seeks to represent themselves, as well as a Class that would include, “All persons and entities that grew, harvested, and sold non-MIR162 corn on a commercial basis (or who received revenue from or such corn under a crop-share agreement) from November 2013 to the present,” according to the Syngenta GMO class action lawsuit.

This GMO corn lawsuit is also seeking to certify a subclass representing individuals and entities from the state of Kentucky that were involved in the commercial production of the American corn supply.

This Syngenta GMO Corn Class Action Lawsuit is Moss Farms v. Syngenta Corporation, et al., Case No. 5:15-cv-56-GNS, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

Syngenta GMO Corn Seed Background

Over 1,500 Syngenta GMO corn class action lawsuits are currently awaiting trial in state and federal courts across the nation. These GMO corn lawsuits similarly allege that the company caused substantial loss to the U.S. corn industry by promoting and selling their Viptera corn before China approved this strain of GMO corn.

China finally approved MIR162, Viptera’s genetically modified trait, which gives the corn crop increased insect resistance, in December of last year. However, this approval came almost five years after Syngenta asked for GMO trait approval in March 2010. China’s rejection of MIR162 has single handedly caused market instability for U.S. corn farmers.

Multiple Syngenta GMO Corn lawsuits claim that Syngenta’s early release of the Viptera corn allegedly cost the U.S. corn market $1 billion to $3 billion because of the seizure and rejection of numerous U.S. containers and cargo ships that transported U.S. corn tainted with Syngenta’s Viptera strain. Because of this, many farms and farmers like Moss Farms are now filing GMO corn lawsuits and class action lawsuits against Syngenta and suing for damages.