BENTON — A class action suit alleges that crop input manufacturers and retailers are restricting market access and charging unreasonably high prices to farmers.
George Potzner, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint June 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Bayer Cropscience LP, Corteva Inc., Growmark Inc., and others, alleging antitrust violations and other claims.
According to the class action complaint, Potzner purchased crop inputs manufactured and sold by the defendants. He alleges the defendants "conspired" to restrict the ability of electronic platforms to compete in the crop inputs market and that the defendants have "capitalized" on the crop input market's lack of pricing and transparency. Potzner specifically alleges that the manufacturer defendants only allow wholesalers licensed as authorized dealers to sell their crop inputs. They also allegedly practice seed relabeling in order to sell items at a higher price. Potzner claims the defendants' actions have led to "unjustifiable" price increases for crop inputs, including seeds and chemicals, and caused "financial havoc on America's farmers."
Potzner seeks monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Elizabeth Fegan of Fegan Scott LLC in Chicago and Jonathan Lindenfeld of Fegan Scott LLC in New York.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:21-CV-00535