Bloomberg News reported that the Missouri jury directed Bayer AG’s unit in Monsanto to pay $1.5 billion. The jury asked the company to pay the amount to 3 ex-users of Roundup weedkiller who blamed their cancers on the controversial herbicide product. This is one of the largest losses in a trial in a 5 year litigation case related to the herbicide.
More about the Case
On Friday, the state court jurors in Jefferson City declared that Valorie Gunther, James Draeger, and Dan Anderson are to receive as much as $61.1 million in actual damages. Aside from the same, $500 million each as punitive damages related to their claims that several years of using Roundup on the lawns as well as gardens led to their non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas.
Recent Spates of Verdicts
Recently, there has been a spate of jury verdicts that Monsanto has been hit with since the Roundup comprises cancer-causing agents. This $1.5 billion verdict is one of the largest damages awarded against a defendant in the US corporate arena in the current year.
On Saturday, Bayer officials stated that judges have permitted the Roundup ex-users to misinterpret the regulatory decisions. These decisions govern the product’s safety in front of the juries. This probable cause has recently led to the plaintiff’s win.
Bayer revealed in a statement that the US Environmental Protection Agency has found Roundup and its main constituent, glyphosate. Also, a federal appeals court of late supported a rejection of calls for Bayer. It includes the warnings related to safety on white bottles.
Bloomberg News reports that the company agreed to switch from the version of Roundup. It contained glyphosate, an active ingredient for weed killing in the US consumer market. It was towards the end of the year.
Post-trial Motion
Likely, the award jury extended to Anderson, Gunther, and Draeger might be reduced on the post-trial motion or as per appeal under the US Supreme Court rulings. These rulings limit punishment of this nature to ten times the actual damage of the plaintiff.
In the Missouri case, the punitive award exceeds the damages awarded by approximately 25 times. This payout is for pain, suffering, and expenses incurred.
