November 2, 2016

A Thurston County Superior Court judge ordered the Grocery Manufacturers Association to pay $18 million in penalties and punitive damages, after Washington’s lawsuit revealed GMA intentionally violated Washington campaign finance laws. The case arose from Washington’s investigation of the finances of opposition to voter Initiative 522, which would have required labeling of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, in food sold to consumers. The ruling against GMA — a Washington, D.C.-based trade group representing major food, beverage and consumer companies — is believed to constitute the largest campaign finance judgment in United States history. WA

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