Judge orders mediation in SweeTango apple lawsuit
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
A judge has dismissed most legal claims against the University of Minnesota in a lawsuit over licensing rights to the new SweeTango apple, and ordered the parties into mediation to try to resolve the dispute.
The order Friday from Hennepin County District Judge Lloyd Zimmerman also dismissed many of the claims against Pepin Heights Orchards and its president and vice president, who lead a cooperative of select growers marketing the new apple variety.
Several apple growers and orchards filed a lawsuit over the exclusive licensing arrangement last year, saying they were unfairly shut out of opportunities to grow the SweeTango apple, which the university hopes will be a repeat of its hugely successful Honeycrisp.
The judge ordered the sides to select a neutral mediator within 60 days.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.