Originally posted on Chicago Law Bulletin
Local Sycamore Attorney C. Nicholas Cronauer is part of a legal team representing more than 20,000 American corn farmers in the growing lawsuit against Syngenta, the Swiss-based seed company. Last week two members of that legal team were appointed by the Minnesota State Court as the co-lead counsels in the litigation, giving them complete control over how the case proceeds.
As lead counsel, the Minnesota Court gives C. Nicholas Cronauer’s team the power to direct trial responsibilities, delegation of trial responsibilities, and most importantly any settlement discussions with Syngenta.
“We’re proud to represent corn farmers from across the Country and give them the best possible representation by partnering with the leaders of this case. We take this responsibility very seriously and we’re thankful for the Court’s confidence in our team’s ability to lead a case of this magnitude,” said Nicholas Cronauer. “These farmers lost real income when corn prices plummeted. Anyone who planted corn in 2013 or 2014 was impacted by Syngenta’s actions and we hope to recover a portion of the lost income for these farmers.”
In 2009, Syngenta released a new strain of corn seed into the United States market before receiving import approval from China. Without import approval for this strain, known as Agrisure Viptera, China rejected shipments of U.S. corn in 2013 and 2014, contributing to a global collapse in U.S. corn prices.
Nicholas Cronauer is working with Watts Guerra, a Texas-based firm leading the case in Minnesota. All cases are being filed in Minnesota State Court, where Syngenta’s U.S. operations are based. Since beginning to sign up corn farmers, landlords, and others in the grain supply chain, the legal group has help multiple meetings and represents clients in across the country.
More information about upcoming events, where corn growers can have their questions about the case answered, can be made by emailing Nicholas at [email protected], online at midwestcornlawsuit.com, or by calling (815) 895-8585.
About BURNS, CRONAUER, & BROWN, LLP: As of August 1, 2015, CRONAUER LAW merged to form BURNS, CRONAUER, & BROWN, LLP. The merger created a full-service law firm located 60 miles west of Chicago, having offices in Sycamore and DeKalb, Illinois. It represents clients throughout Illinois and has represented clients nationwide in conformance with the rules of professional conduct. Since 2000, the CRONAUER LAW has been responsible for over one hundred twenty million dollars in client transactions and has also recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients through settlements and verdicts. Just this month Nicholas Cronauer successfully resolved a Kentucky lawsuit after mediating the case.