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Mass Tort: Many Cases Tried Separately

One company may have harmed many people, but sometimes the circumstances make a class action inappropriate. These kinds of cases — which sometimes involve hundreds or thousands of individual cases — are called mass tort cases. Mass tort cases must be tried separately. But, in the interest of efficiency and justice, thousands of lawsuits can be coordinated through a single court, through what is known as multi-district litigation (MDL).

Mass Tort Litigation Attorneys

The trial attorneys at Gray Ritter Graham in St. Louis have been lead attorneys on mass tort MDL cases.

  • When a major international bio-tech company negligently contaminated the US rice supply with unapproved genetically-modified rice, the European Union stopped importing US rice. Prices received by farmers plummeted. To make matters worse, a new rice crop could not be planted on those fields previously contaminated by the unapproved rice. Thousands of farmers, and others in the industry, were affected. GRG was appointed co-lead counsel to prosecute the litigation on behalf of all US rice farmers. The cases were tried separately as mass tort litigation. After winning three bellwether trials, GRG led the negotiation that resulted in a $750 million settlement for US rice farmers and additional payments to other affected businesses. The amounts paid in settlement totaled over $1.1 billion.
  • When large bio-tech companies unleashed a new crop system that resulted in off-target movement of a volatile herbicide that damaged tens of thousands of acres of soybeans and other crops and plants across the country, farmers lost substantial yields and profits. GRG was appointed to lead the litigation on behalf of those farmers and others who suffered financial harm. After years of hard-fought litigation and one successful bellwether trial, GRG led the negotiations that resulted in a $400 million settlement for farmers and others harmed by off-target movement of the herbicide.

Experience, careful organization and leadership are necessary in mass torts.

Bellwether mass tort cases can set the tone and results for negotiations and settlements. Our litigation attorneys are known for their ability to lead mass tort cases.

If you have been harmed by a company’s actions or if you have a client who has been harmed, call and ask us to review the case. Contact us as soon as possible so that we can evaluate the case and begin our investigation. We represent clients in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and, in some cases, nationwide.

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