Legal Expense Solutions (LES) has launched a service to advocate for farmers across the country to reduce fees paid to attorneys in the $1.51 billion Syngenta biotech corn settlement, some of which LES argues may be “excessive, unnecessary and unethical.”

According to LES, tens of thousands of farmers have retained their own attorneys, with hundreds of thousands more being represented by a consortium of law firms in the class action. The settlement requires that no claimant will receive more money per acre/bushel than any other for at least one year.

LES said individual attorneys have retained some farmers at fees of 40% or more of the farmer's recovery, while the class settlement attorneys to the court have posted their intent to request up to 33.333% of the settlement, plus expenses (possibly totaling more than $500 million).

“Legal Expense Solutions will put the necessary time, energy and resources into each corn producer's situation to minimize the legal fees paid and to maximize the farmer's ultimate recovery,” the company said. “Corn prices have already hurt farmers. LES will make certain its clients don't overpay in getting the money they're due.”