As reported in local, regional and national media, the Iowa Supreme Court upheld class certification on May 12. 2017, in Freeman v. Grain Processing Corporation, a case undertaken by Miner Barnhill & Galland (MBG) in 2012 on behalf of thousands of Muscatine, Iowa residents. The plaintiffs claim that pollution from the local corn wet milling plant—GPC—impaired their ability to use and enjoy their properties. The ruling allows them to proceed for the entire neighborhood to a classwide trial.

“The Court’s landmark ruling allows the class action plaintiffs to prove harms from pollution for the entire community through sample witnesses and a formulaic measure of harm,” said Sarah Siskind of MBG. “It gives the plaintiffs’ lawyers the green light to get the classwide claims to trial.”

Read the full Court opinion here.

Miner Barnhill & Galland partners Sarah Siskind and Scott Entin, with James Larew and Claire Diallo of Larew Law Office, are class counsel for the homeowners.

This is the second time a unanimous Iowa Supreme Court decision has been secured in this case.

Image Credit: Beth Van Zandt, Muscatine Journal