Type to search

ENVIRONMENT

Judge May Overturn $250 Million Verdict Against Monsanto

The historic $250 million punitive damage verdict awarded against Monsanto may be overturned due to insufficient proof the company acted with malice.

Superior Court Judge Suzanne Ramos Bolanos granted a tentative ruling that would overturn a historic $250 million punitive damages verdict awarded against Monsanto. Monsanto is accused of marketing its weedkiller Roundup when the company was aware that the active ingredient glyphosate is highly carcinogenic.

DeWayne Johnson, a former school groundskeeper, is currently dying of lymphoma after using Monsanto’s weedkiller Roundup at his summer job as a groundskeeper. Johnson’s lawyers allege Monsanto failed to warn Roundup’s users that the herbicide is cancer-causing even though Monsanto knew it was a carcinogenic product.

Judge Bolanos, however, expressed uncertainty that Monsanto acted with malice by not warning Johnson of the potential dangers of Roundup – a requirement for a punitive damages award. She said there is no sufficient evidence to back up the claim of malice.

Judge May Overturn the Jury’s Verdict and Order a New Trial for Monsanto

A 12-member jury found Monsanto guilty of the failure to warn users that Roundup is dangerous, thereby causing Johnson to develop cancer. The jury ordered the Bayer-owned agrochemical company to pay Johnson $289 million in damages, $33 million of which was awarded for reduced life expectancy. Bolanos is reportedly considering lowering the reduced life expectancy payout to $9 million.

Monsanto’s lawyers immediately contested the ruling and filed appeals to either overturn the verdict of $289 million, reduce the punitive damages, or obtain a new trial.

In her written ruling, Bolanos disclosed that in the event that she fails to vacate the verdict for punitive damages, then she may order a new trial for damages. Monsanto expressed satisfaction with the tentative ruling.

“The jury’s verdict was wholly at odds with over 40 years of real-world use, an extensive body of scientific data and analysis, including in-depth reviews by regulatory authorities in the U.S. and EU, and approvals in 160 countries, which support the conclusion that glyphosate-based herbicides are safe when used as directed and that glyphosate is not carcinogenic,” Bayer wrote.

Bolanos Accepted the Motions Filed By Both Parties with No Indication Of When to Rule On Them

U.S. and EU regulators have said that glyphosate, Roundup’s main ingredient, is safe for human use. But the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer ruled otherwise, saying it is probably carcinogenic. Based on this, Johnson’s legal team said Monsanto should have put a cancer warning label on Roundup and instruct users on wearing protective clothing during use.

Monsanto’s lawyers disagreed and argued in the Johnson case that cancer takes three years to develop and since Johnson only used Roundup for one summer before falling ill in the fall, the weedkiller could not have caused his cancer. Ultimately a 12-person jury unanimously sided with Johnson, awarding the unprecedented $289 million verdict.

Johnson’s lawyers – Michael Miller of The Miller Firm, Brent Wisner of Baum Hedlund Aristei Goldman, and Michael Baum also of Aristei Goldman all urge Judge Bolanos to ratify the jury’s punitive damages verdict. Bolanos will decide soon, but has not indicated when she will rule on ratifying or overturning the verdict.

 

Tags:

You Might also Like

15 Comments

  1. Jeanne Macdonald October 12, 2018

    Dammit no. They need to repair damage to our lives.

    Reply
  2. Linda Crawford October 12, 2018

    ????

    Reply
  3. Tricornes❌ October 12, 2018

    Who knew that weed killer could be dangerous?

    Reply
  4. Anne Corazzi October 12, 2018

    Horrible

    Reply
  5. Diane Nelsonski October 12, 2018

    Surprised? Surely not. Our rights are for sale to highest bidders.

    Reply
  6. John Cacho October 12, 2018

    Even if he receives $25million in backpay, Monsanto will still be getting the deal of the century

    Reply
    1. Citizen Truth October 12, 2018

      yes

  7. Larry L. Cunningham October 12, 2018

    Corporate judge?

    Reply
  8. Jeanne Macdonald October 19, 2018

    No . They are guilty of destroying our ecology.

    Reply
  9. Roger Jasso October 19, 2018

    Danggg!! The judge must be bribed by Monsanto companies to overturn the lawsuits!!

    Reply
  10. Peter Lloyd October 19, 2018

    Typical decision made by the $

    Reply
  11. Linda Crawford October 19, 2018

    ?

    Reply
  12. George House October 19, 2018

    Another one Paid off

    Reply
  13. Dorothy McKown October 19, 2018

    No they are guilty of causing cancer!!! Must be a Republican judge , getting well paid , to overturn this

    Reply
  14. Ferne Fitzpatrick Carbo October 19, 2018

    If you love your children and grandchildren, DO NOT use this product…was banned in Europe years ago…but our country doesn’t care about children…look at those caged by Trump!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *