Bayer To Pay $1.56B In Most Recent Trial Over Roundup Weedkiller Causing Cancer, Other Injuries
OAN’s Brooke Mallory
12:01 PM – Friday, November 17, 2023
Four plaintiffs claimed that Bayer’s Roundup weedkiller caused injuries, including cancer, and a Missouri jury awarded them $1.56 billion. This decision might increase investor pressure on the German pharmaceutical and agricultural chemicals corporation to alter its legal approach.
According to court papers, a jury in Cole County, Missouri, on Friday concluded that Bayer’s Monsanto company was accountable for carelessness, design flaws, and neglecting to notify plaintiffs about the possible risks associated with using Roundup.
The three plaintiffs—Jammy Draeger of Missouri, Daniel Anderson of California, and Valorie Gunther of New York—were given awards totaling $61.1 million, including $500 million in punitive damages. Each received a non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis, which they said was brought on by spraying Roundup on their family’s land. Brenda, Draeger’s wife, received a $100,000 settlement for the alleged injuries she sustained as a result of her husband’s illness.
Since the punitive damages exceed the direction of the U.S. Supreme Court, they may be reduced on appeal.
According to Bayer, glyphosate, the active component in Roundup, has been established through “decades of research to be safe” for human usage.
After nine consecutive trials in which the business was deemed not responsible to plaintiffs, this ruling represents Bayer’s fourth straight setback in court. One of Bayer’s top ten shareholders, Union Investment, urged the company earlier this month to think about reaching out to plaintiffs in an effort to resolve additional disputes.
The first of many victories on behalf of thousands of plaintiffs was declared in a statement by Bart Rankin, a partner at Forrest Weldon, who represented them.
However, in a statement, Bayer stated that it had compelling reasons to get the most recent rulings reversed in an appeal.
It claimed that in the previous legal cases against the corporation, plaintiffs were wrongfully allowed to distort the safety evaluation conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Union’s glyphosate renewal procedure.
Following the failure of EU member states to provide a definitive position on the renewal, the European Commission said last week that it will extend its approval of glyphosate based on safety evaluations from the European Food Agency and European Chemicals Agency.
Approximately 165,000 lawsuits have been filed against the company for claims of personal injury brought on by Roundup, which Bayer purchased in 2018 as part of its $63 billion acquisition of the agricultural business Monsanto.
Bayer paid up to $10.9 billion to resolve the majority of the outstanding Roundup lawsuits in 2020. Approximately fifty thousand claims are still outstanding, as per regulatory filings.
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How did the recent $1.56 billion verdict against Bayer in the Roundup lawsuit increase investor pressure on the company?
Title: Bayer Faces Investor Pressure as Missouri Jury Awards $1.56 Billion in Roundup Lawsuit
Introduction
On Friday, November 17, a jury in Cole County, Missouri concluded that Bayer’s Monsanto company was accountable for negligence and design flaws relating to its Roundup weedkiller. The jury awarded four plaintiffs a total of $1.56 billion, including punitive damages. This ruling marks another setback in court for Bayer, potentially increasing investor pressure on the German pharmaceutical and agricultural chemicals corporation to alter its legal approach.
The Verdict and Awards
According to court papers, the jury found that Monsanto failed to inform plaintiffs about the potential risks associated with the use of Roundup and was therefore responsible for their injuries, including cancer. The three plaintiffs, Jammy Draeger of Missouri, Daniel Anderson of California, and Valorie Gunther of New York, were awarded a total of $61.1 million, with punitive damages amounting to $500 million. Each plaintiff had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which they claimed was caused by exposure to Roundup on their family’s land. Brenda Draeger, Jammy Draeger’s wife, received a $100,000 settlement for alleged injuries sustained as a result of her husband’s illness.
Possible Appeal and Investor Concerns
As the punitive damages awarded exceed the direction of the U.S. Supreme Court, there may be a reduction on appeal. Despite this, the latest ruling represents Bayer’s fourth consecutive setback in court, following nine trials in which the company was deemed not responsible. Union Investment, one of Bayer’s top ten shareholders, recently urged the company to consider reaching out to plaintiffs to resolve additional disputes.
Bayer’s Response and Legal Arguments
Bayer maintains that glyphosate, the active component in Roundup, is safe for human usage and has been established as such through decades of research. In a statement, the company expressed confidence in its compelling reasons to seek reversal of the recent rulings through the appeal process. Bayer claims that plaintiffs in previous cases were allowed to distort the safety evaluation conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Union’s glyphosate renewal procedure.
European Commission’s Stance on Glyphosate
Following the failure of EU member states to provide a definitive position on glyphosate’s renewal, the European Commission recently announced its decision to extend approval based on safety evaluations from the European Food Agency and European Chemicals Agency. This extension further complicates the legal landscape surrounding Roundup and increases the need for Bayer to address the concerns of plaintiffs and investors alike.
Conclusion
The recent $1.56 billion verdict against Bayer in the Roundup lawsuit represents a significant blow to the company and increases pressure to revisit its legal approach. Bayer’s repeated setbacks in court, coupled with shareholder concerns, highlight the importance of addressing the claims brought forth by plaintiffs. As the legal battle continues, the outcome will have long-lasting implications on Bayer’s reputation, financials, and the broader debate surrounding the safety of glyphosate-based products.
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