Judge gives prelim OK to Syngenta deal : Benton

Judge gives prelim OK to Syngenta deal : Benton

click link above

BENTON — A federal judge gave a preliminary stamp of approval Wednesday to a $105 million settlement agreement proposed by parties in an alleged water contamination lawsuit.
The lawsuit was brought by more than 20 Midwestern public water suppliers, including the Illinois municipalities of Greenville, Coulterville, Evansville, Farina and Gillespie, against the Swiss-based conglomerate Syngenta.
The lawsuit alleged Syngenta sold atrazine to farmers knowing the weed killer had the potential to run off crop land and into bodies of water such as those used by the water providers to draw raw water.
The water providers asked that Syngenta be held liable for costs to test and monitor water for atrazine levels as well as costs relating to removal of the herbicide from water.
In a statement announcing the proposed settlement last week, Syngenta denied any liability and said the agreement was entered “in order to end the business uncertainty and expense of protracted legal proceedings.”