Washington State Farmers and The Center for Food Safety File Suit Against Monsanto

On June 6, 2013, two Washington state wheat farmers and The Center for Food Safety filed a purported class-action suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington against Monsanto. The complaint alleges six causes of action including negligence, public nuisance, strict liability and conversion. The farmers claim they have been injured by the decline in wheat prices following the discovery of unapproved genetically modified wheat in Oregon. The Center for Food Safety claims the discovery has made it more difficult for its members, who desire non-genetically modified products, to produce, sell and eat uncontaminated wheat. The plaintiffs seek compensatory damages and injunctive relief requiring Monsanto to clean up the contamination and take measures to ensure further contamination will not occur. The case is docketed at CV-13-213-JLQ. A Kansas wheat farmer filed a similar lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas on June 3, 2013.

Written By Clara Conklin - Research Assistant
Penn State Law- Agricultural Law Center

June 10, 2013