Jury in Georgia awards Bayer $2.1 billion in damages for Roundup weedkiller lawsuit
A roundup of the ongoing legal battle between Bayer and Monsanto over Roundup herbicide
The ongoing courtroom duel between Bayer (who now owns Monsanto) and thousands of plaintiffs accusing Roundup of causing their non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has reached another milestone. A Georgia jury ordered Bayer to pay nearly $2.1 billion in damages to one such plaintiff, John Barnes.
This verdict echoes a long history of legal disputes regarding Monsanto's Roundup herbicide. With more than 177,000 lawsuits and a whopping $11 billion settlements under its belt, this agrochemical giant has been hit hard.
The latest courtroom decision involves Barnes seeking damages for his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a disease he claims was caused by Roundup. Kyle Findley, the lead trial lawyer for Arnold & Itkin LLP (the law firm representing Barnes), stated that the verdict will aid his client in affording necessary treatment moving forward.
The awarded compensatory damages total $65 million, while punitive damages clock in at a staggering $2 billion. This settlement ranks among the largest legal rulings in a Roundup-related case to date. Bayer has vowed to appeal the decision, stating that the verdict contradicts the scientific evidence supporting Roundup's safety.
Years of controversy revolve around the association between Roundup and cancer, especially its primary ingredient, glyphosate. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claims glyphosate is unlikely to be carcinogenic when used as directed, numerous studies suggest otherwise. Some lawsuits allege that Monsanto intentionally concealed the toxicity of Roundup and failed to warn the public of the serious risks for years.
Friday's verdict in Barnes' case unveiled evidence of "many years of cover-ups" and "backroom dealings" according to Findley. He accused Monsanto of ignoring scientific studies related to the toxicity of Roundup and attempting to manipulate the public's understanding of the product's association with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
While Bayer continues to deny Roundup's link to cancer, the company has seen mixed courtroom success. According to Findley, his law firm has won four significant Roundup-related verdicts so far, including the largest one in Philadelphia in January 2024, where damages totaled $2.25 billion. With hopes for more cases, Findley's firm remains determined to address Monsanto's questionable practices.
Bayer has responded by stepping up its efforts in several U.S. states to protect pesticide companies from claims regarding failure to warn the public about cancer risks if the labeling complies with EPA regulations. The controversy surrounding Roundup doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. The debate remains as fierce as ever, with implications for Roundup's continued availability and the accountability of pesticide companies.
US farmers, like John Barnes from Georgia, are taking Bayer to court over their claims that Roundup caused their cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The agrochemical giant, which is now owned by Bayer, faces over 177,000 lawsuits due to Roundup's alleged link to cancer. In Barnes' lawsuit, he was awarded a record-breaking $2.1 billion in damages. However, Bayer has vowed to appeal the decision, emphasizing the scientific evidence supporting Roundup's safety. The ongoing legal battle between Bayer and the various plaintiffs continues to be a heated debate in the agricultural industry.
