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CPHA Lawsuit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Laura Hamburg/cell 707 621-0906
Email: laura@bullhornrag.com
December 30, 2003
GMO-FREE MENDOCINO WINS LAWSUIT AGAINST BIOTECH INDUSTRY
Ukiah, Mendocino County - In a sweeping victory for Mendocino's effort to ban the growing of genetically modified crops and food, a Superior Court judge refused today (Wednesday, Dec. 30) to change language in the upcoming March election ballot.
Earlier this month, California's largest consortium of biotechnology, agri-chemical corporations sued the County Elections Clerk as well as the proponents of Measure H - the citizen-led initiative to make Mendocino the first county in the nation to ban the growing of GMOs. The lawsuit launched by the industry consortium of multinational corporations attempted to prevent Mendocino County voters from reading key ballot arguments in support of Measure H.
In today's ruling, Superior Court Judge Leonard J. LaCasse decided not to change a single word on the ballot in support of Measure H. His judgment clears the way for the election ballots to be printed in time for the March election - and uncensored.
"Judge LaCasse in his opinion recognized the effort for what it really was - an effort to keep the truth from the voters of Mendocino County," said Ukiah attorney Susan B. Jordan, who represented the Measure H citizen group pro bono. "Judge La Casse endorsed the intelligence of the Mendocino County electorate and said they can read the arguments, and they can decide for themselves."
The group behind the lawsuit, the California Plant Health Association, represents some of the biggest names in GMO production and the world's leading producers of herbicides and pesticides including Monsanto Corporation, Dow AgroSciences, Bayer Corporation, Helena Chemical and DuPont.
The biotech industry's Sacramento-based law firm attempted to strike sections of the election ballot arguments in favor of Measure H before voters even had a chance to read the pamphlet.
For example, their attorney told Judge LaCasse that since GMO-contaminated wine is not yet on the shelves, Mendocino County voters should be prevented from reading that GMO-contaminated wine is unmarketable in Europe and Japan.
But after it was revealed in court that there are 30 laboratory trials of GMO-grapevines currently under development in California, it simply underscored the need for Measure H as protection for the future of Mendocino County's agricultural economy.
"These corporations don't care about Mendocino County," said Els Cooperrider, a local owner of the Ukiah Brewing Co. & Restaurant, who was named in the lawsuit. "They don't live here. They don't work here or own farms here," she said. "We care about protecting our local crops from future contamination from GMOs. These outside corporations only care about profit and their multi-billion dollar industry."
If approved by voters in the March election, Measure H will prohibit the "propagation, cultivation, raising and growing of genetically modified organisms in Mendocino County." It is not a labeling law. And Measure H does not affect food products found in the aisles of grocery stores or livestock feed.
The initiative has drawn the support of Mendocino County Sheriff Tony Craver, local physicians such as Dr. Marvin Trotter, who is Mendocino County's Public Health Director, and local families concerned about the untested health risks of GMOs.
In addition, some of the County's leading grape growers - both organic and conventional, endorse the measure including Dan Fetzer, Frey Vineyards, Roederer Estates and Hubert Germain-Robin of Redwood Valley's Germain-Robin, makers of world-renowned brandy and cognac.
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