Rice Farmers Receive Bayer Cropscience Payment
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More than 2,500 Hare Wynn rice farmer-clients are receiviing payments as a result of a historic $750 million settlement in a lawsuit against Bayer Cropscience. The lawsuits that prompted the eventual settlement were filed as a result of the corruption of farmers’ crops by a genetically engineered strain of rice produced by the Bayer Cropscience.
"This settlement was crucial to the survivability of thousands of rice growing farms and families in this country,” states Scott Powell, lead counsel with Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton. “Our clients, as well as all rice farmers in this country, have struggled mightily with the crash of the world rice markets due to Bayer's contamination. I am so proud of them and could not be happier for these farming families and businesses.”
Bayer agreed to the settlement during the summer of 2011, stipulating that a threshold of 85% of the rice acreage involved in the suit be certified. According to Scott Powell, most of the farmers involved in the settlement should see payments in the first week of January.
The problem began in August, 2006 when The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that amounts of genetically altered rice had made its way into the U.S. rice supply. In reaction to this announcement, the 27-country European Union (EU)market essentially closed because of a requirement that U.S. rice be tested and certified to be 100 percent free of genetically modified rice.
Alabama Supreme Court Upholds Third Jury Verdict |
Thomas Trammell had lower back surgery in 2005 resulting in a traumatizing injury to the cauda equina, a nerve structure within the lower end of the spinal column. The original injury was then left untreated by the physician and, as a result, Trammell suffered permanent motor and sensory disorders affecting the lower extremities. Trammell alleged liability for both the negligent surgery and, also, the negligent post-operative care.
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Scott Powell: Litigator of the Year |
The award selection was based upon peer review and research conducted by Benchmark’s research team from November 2011 to January 2012. "I am very humbled by this award,” said Powell. “There are so many outstanding lawyers in this state. I am very grateful to my colleagues and to those who made this possible."
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Cumberland School of Law Celebration
Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton proudly salutes the Cumberland School of Law as we celebrate 50 years of the distinguished school being located at Samford University. On April 14, 2012, distinguished alumni from all over the United States will join the Reunion classes of 1962, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, and 2007.
In its 163 years, Cumberland School of Law has produced more than 12,000 law graduates; nine of those graduates are lawyers at Hare Wynn.
Nolan Awbrey, Alva Caine, John Haley, Don McKenna, Jim Pratt, Scott Powell, Shay Samples and Jim Thompson received their law degrees from the Cumberland School of Law. Staff attorney Ashley Reitz Peinhardt is also a Cumberland law graduate.
