1. Waimea residents sue Pioneer

2. On behalf of more than 150 Waimea residents, attorneys on Tuesday filed a lawsuit in Fifth Circuit Court on O‘ahu against Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a DuPont company.
The 58-page lawsuit alleges that Pioneer’s practices in the farming of genetically modified seed crops on fields next to Waimea unlawfully allowed pesticides and pesticide-laden fugitive dust to blow into residents’ homes on almost a daily basis for more than 10 years.

3. Honolulu attorney Gerard Jervis and Las Vegas attorney Kyle Smith said the amount requested in the lawsuit was not disclosed in the filing, but added that the amount is “substantial” and will redress and remedy the impact to residents and diminished value of more than 100 homes.
The suit, accompanied by numerous exhibits, contends that despite ongoing community complaints and a petition by Waimea residents in 2000 requesting relief, Pioneer’s GMO operations have continually generated excessive fugitive dust and used inherently dangerous pesticides without taking preventative steps to control airborne pollutants as promised by Pioneer and as required by state and county law.

4. The plaintiffs also allege that long-term, excessive exposure to dust and pesticides have resulted in reduced property values and physical damage to their homes.

5. Second lawsuit filed against Pioneer Hi-Bred over Kauai crop dust
A group of 17 Kauai residents has filed a lawsuit against Pioneer Hi-Bred and landowner Gay & Robinson alleging the company failed to control erosion and pesticide-contaminated dust from its genetically-modified commercial seed operation.
The Garden Island reports the lawsuit, filed May 16 in 5th Circuit Court by Honolulu attorneys Kyle Smith and Gerard Jervis, is separate from a mass-action claim against the same entities that was recently moved to U.S. District Court in Honolulu.

6. If you were a family member downwind from Pioneer Hi-Bred, would you:
try to negotiate with them to negotiate an acceptable mitigation
hire an attorney to negotiate for you
not bother with A and B and go straight to a lawsuit

7. Why is this case dragging on?
The owners of Pioneer Hi-Bred have deep pockets to defend
The laws in general favor the polluters
The law is a terrible vehicle for obtaining a just verdict