Judge Sides with Monsanto: On February 24, Judge Naomi Buchwald ruled to dismiss the case OSGATA et al. v Monsanto.
“Family farmers need the protection of the court. We reject as naïve and undefendable the judge’s assertion that Monsanto’s vague public relations ‘commitment’ should be ‘a source of comfort’ to plaintiffs. The truth is we are under threat and we do not believe Monsanto. The truth is that American farmers and the American people do not believe Monsanto. Family farmers deserve our day in court and this flawed ruling will not deter us from continuing to seek justice.” –organic farmer and OSGATA President, Jim Gerritsen
“While I have great respect for Judge Buchwald, her decision to deny farmers the right to seek legal protection from one of the world’s foremost patent bullies is gravely disappointing. Her belief that farmers are acting unreasonable when they stop growing certain crops to avoid being sued by Monsanto for patent infringement should their crops become contaminated maligns the intelligence and integrity of those farmers. Her failure to address the purpose of the Declaratory Judgment Act and her characterization of binding Supreme Court precedent that supports the farmers’ standing as ‘wholly inapposite’ constitute legal error. In sum, her opinion is flawed on both the facts and the law…” –Plaintiff lead attorney Daniel Ravicher
What is Judge Buchwald eating?
To say that I am very disappointed with the Honorable Judge Buchwald’s ruling on this case would be a grave understatement. But I am frankly, not that surprised. I got involved early on in this effort as it was an important first step in the process. And it will be a process to build a case that is carefully crafted to meet the courts expectations.
In this day when so many claim to be fighting to protect the environment it would nice to start developing a strategy to reach across the isle to increase support for this very critical issue that threatens the future of organic and sustainable agriculture. The short sighted efforts of some political opportunists to destroy capitalism, under the guise of climate change is threatening the very farms that feed them. It seems to be in vogue to attack “big oil” yet Monsanto continues to go unchecked as it slowly but surely monopolizes greater portions of the worlds food supply. It was easy enough for the public to understand the danger of a telecommunications firm controlling too much of the market, WHY is it so hard for us to educate the public of the problems Monsanto poses? Not only is there the threat of monopoly but it is simultaneously threatening to the destruction organic food production.
It is time for some honest reassessment of priorities. Monsanto has given us genetically engineered food that poses very real health risks, their products have created super weeds, super pathogens and super bugs! If we do not get a handle on this threat, not just our environment but our mortality as well- and quickly, we need not worry about the climate in a hundred years.