Legal issues from Northern America

June 19, 2015

Potato Growers, Associated Wholesale Grocers, settle lawsuit for $25 million

A federal judge has signed off on a $25 million settlement in a lawsuit between wholesale grocers and US potato farming associations accused of forming a price-fixing cartel.

Potato Cyst Nematoe infected plant roots

April 30, 2015

Idaho Potato Farmers file lawsuit over PCN regulation

A group of 18 Idaho Potato farmers that say they have been negatively affected by the Pale Cyst Nematode (PCN) program filed an administrative lawsuit against the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture on Tuesday.

April 10, 2015

Settlement deadline in 'potato cartel' case extended

Settlement negotiations are apparently ongoing in the federal potato price-fixing case that wholesalers, retailers and consumers filed six years ago against United Potato Growers of America and others.

March 10, 2015

North Dakota potato farming Johnson brothers sentenced to prison for crop insurance fraud

Potato farming brothers Aaron Johnson of Northwood and Derek Johnson of Vancouver, B.C., will spend time in federal prison in the Federal Prison Camp in Duluth, Minn., and are jointly responsible for restitution of nearly $1 million because of crop insurance fraud.

August 06, 2014

Lawsuit challenging Kettle Chip 'Reduced Fat' Claim Will Proceed

The makers of Kettle brand chips persuaded a federal judge to dismiss claims that its 'reduced fat sea salt chips' were falsely advertised, though the judge gave the plaintiff leave to amend his complaint.

John Keeling, National Potato Council executive vice president and CEO

February 05, 2014

National Potato Council responds to passing of the 2014 Farm Bill

John Keeling, National Potato Council executive vice president and CEO responds to the passing of the 2014 Farm Bill in US Congress

August 12, 2013

Offutt suing insurance company over potato case

A prominent North Dakota potato farmer who’s among a group of people accused in an alleged price-fixing scheme is suing his insurance company for failing to cover his defense costs.

July 27, 2013

Ron Offutt wants potato price-fixing lawsuit dismissed

Business magnate Ron Offutt formally has denied wrongdoing in a potato price-fixing lawsuit, asking that the case be dismissed or that it go to jury trial.

April 24, 2013

United Potato Growers of America face lawsuit on price fixing

In a recently-filed lawsuit, Associated Wholesale Grocers claims that the United Potato Growers of America, United Potato state groups and many potato grower-shippers are illegally setting potato prices.

September 20, 2012

Popcorn Consumer awarded $7.2 million in diacetyl flavouring lawsuit

A U.S. federal court jury on Wednesday awarded a Colorado man $7.2 million in damages for developing a chronic condition known as popcorn lung from a chemical used in flavouring microwave popcorn. Jurors agreed with the claims by Wayne Watson, 59, tha...

August 19, 2012

Lawyers From Suits Against Big Tobacco Target Food Makers

More than a dozen lawyers who previously took on the tobacco companies have filed 25 cases against industry players like ConAgra Foods, PepsiCo, Heinz, General Mills and Chobani that stock pantry shelves and refrigerators across America. The suits, fi...

June 19, 2012

McCain Foods to pay $40,000 for air quality violations

McCain Foods in Othello reached a settlement agreement this week with the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) over violations of the plant’s air quality permit, vowing to avoid any similar violations in the future.

January 22, 2012

Bayer CropScience Files Third Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Dow AgroSciences

Bayer CropScience announced today that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Dow AgroSciences (DAS) based upon DAS's unauthorized use of Bayer patents related to gluf...

December 14, 2011

United Potato not protected from charges of illegal supply reduction

The Capper-Volstead Act does not protect United Potato Growers of America from charges it illegally reduced the supply of potatoes in order to raise prices.

December 04, 2011

Judge rules potato farmers aren't exempt from antitrust laws

Potato farmers are not exempt from antitrust laws that prohibit collusion, including "acreage reductions, production restrictions or collusive crop planning,"according to a federal judge. Chief U.S. District Judge Lynn Winmill in Idaho has r...

October 06, 2011

Lawyer for jailed farmer says banks, companies will work on plan to save farm

A lawyer for a New Brunswick potato farmer jailed in Lebanon, Henk Tepper, has until the end of the month to present a plan to keep his client's farming businesses afloat and pay off creditors.

Center for Science in the Public Interest

December 15, 2010

Class Action Lawsuit Targets McDonald's Use of Toys to Market to Children

A mother of two says that McDonald’s uses toys as bait to induce her kids to clamor to go to McDonald’s and to develop a preference for nutritionally poor Happy Meals. With the help of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, today the mom, Monet Parham, is filing a class action lawsuit aimed at stopping McDonald’s use of toys to market directly to young children.

December 15, 2010

Dehydrated Potato Flakes blamed for derailment

Union Pacific says the dehydrated potato flakes it was hauling caused a costly derailment at its biggest railyard because Idahoan Foods did not properly clean the wheels of its freight cars.