Rhyddid Watkins is a member of the firm's litigation and advocacy group.  He focuses primarily on agribusiness litigation, including products liability, mass torts, class actions, biotechnology, agricultural contracts, and regulatory issues.  Prior to joining the firm, Rhyddid served as a judicial intern for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and worked as a law clerk at a variety of places in Washington, D.C., including a white-collar criminal defense firm, a firm focused on helping companies expand internationally, and a non-profit organization.

As a member of Faegre Baker Daniels' litigation and advocacy group, Rhyddid has assisted in the following representative cases:

• Burford v. Cargill, Inc. (ongoing): Representing Cargill in its defense of a putative national class action alleging fraud and breach of warranty claims based on dairy feed marketing practices
• Mortellite v. Novartis (Syngenta) Crop Protection, Inc.  (ongoing):  Representing Syngenta in a multi-plaintiff case in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey involving claims of insecticide injury to blueberries 
• Burns et al. v. Universal Crop Protection Alliance, et al.: Obtaining, after a six-week trial in Arkansas, a complete defense verdict for our client on claims that cotton crops were damaged by 3,4-D herbicide products
• Honrine, et al v. Syngenta Seeds, Inc.: Securing a favorable settlement of plaintiffs' claims of faulty performance of zucchini squash seed on the day trial was set to begin
• Ney Leasing Corporation, Inc. v. Cargill Meat Logistics Solutions, Inc.: Securing a favorable settlement on remaining claims after achieving a judgment denying the majority of plaintiff's claims and awarding only one-quarter of damages sought
• Cargill, Incorporated v. Otto:  Representing client in enforcement and collection of an arbitration award

Pro Bono

• Tubman Safety Project
• Asylum/Refugee Assistance

Presentations

• Genetically Engineered Plants: Past, Present, and Future
  Minnesota Environmental Law Institute CLE (2011)
• Conducting Effective and Efficient Written Discovery
  Minnesota CLE (2011)

Legal Updates

• What Lies Ahead for GM Crops?
  Feedstuffs (June, 2011)
• Uprooting The Injunction On Roundup Ready
  Law360 (2010)
• Supreme Court Hears Case on Genetically Modified Alfalfa
  Faegre & Benson Publication (2010)