Genetically Modified Rice Cases

Compass Lexecon has been involved in the ongoing litigation related to the release of genetically modified rice into the domestic US rice supply by Bayer CropSciences in 2006. Hundreds of cases have been filed by US rice farmers and millers claiming they were damaged by the release because various countries curtailed rice imports in response to concerns that US rice might contain traces of genetically modified rice. We were retained by Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP on behalf of Bayer CropScience to estimate damages to US rice farmers and millers. Compass Lexecon experts and affiliates submitted reports in a number of cases, only one of which has gone to trial at this point. In that case, Compass Lexecon affiliate Dr. David K. A. Mordecai testified on behalf of Bayer, and the jury accepted his estimate of damages and rejected plaintiff’s experts’ estimate. Compass Lexecon experts Professor Daniel R. Fischel and Dr. Gustavo Bamberger have submitted reports in other cases, and Dr. Vincent Warther and Lynette Neumann headed up the support teams in the Chicago office. In connection with our work in these cases, we have worked with Mark Ferguson, Eric Olson, Glen Summers, John Hughes, Les Houtz and others at the Bartlit Beck firm.