Seattle, WA – In a significant court ruling against agricultural behemoth Monsanto, a state jury in Washington has awarded $100 million in damages for exposure to hazardous chemicals in a local school. The King County jury’s verdict came after a two-month trial, focusing on the health risks associated with long-lasting chemicals known as PCBs.
Out of the hefty sum, $25 million was allocated as compensatory damages and an additional $75 million in punitive damages split among four plaintiffs. These individuals claimed harm from exposure to PCBs found in outdated fluorescent lights and building caulk at Sky Valley Educational Center. Conversely, claims from 11 other plaintiffs were dismissed, citing insufficient evidence linking their ailments to PCB exposure.
This recent case contributes to a growing list of legal battles for Monsanto, which is now facing over $1.5 billion in awarded damages linked to PCB exposure at the Sky Valley facility. The company has appealed previous verdicts, all of which were documented and are viewable through the Courtroom View Network.
Monsanto, now a subsidiary of Bayer, is widely criticized for its handling of PCBs. The chemicals, used widely in industrial applications before being banned in the late 1970s, are durable to the extent they are often called “forever chemicals.” Plaintiffs in the case, which included students, parents, and school employees, assert that Monsanto was aware of the risks long before the ban. Reported health effects from exposure range from neurological and thyroid disorders to various forms of cancer.
During the legal proceedings, Monsanto defended itself by presenting data, including blood and air tests, suggesting that PCB levels at the Sky Valley facility were too low to cause harm. The company emphasized that other factors, such as mold and inadequate ventilation due to the school’s poor condition, might be responsible for the plaintiffs’ health issues.
However, the jury found these arguments insufficient against the evidence presented. Monsanto responded to the verdict by announcing its intention to appeal, describing the punitive damages as “excessive.” The company argued that the scientific evidence presented should absolve it of liability, a stance it maintains firmly.
The complexity of the case, highlighted by the nuanced scientific testimony, posed a formidable challenge for the jurors, who were tasked with unraveling the intricate details presented in court. Henry Jones, representing the plaintiffs, acknowledged the difficulty, commending the jury for their diligent effort to adjudicate fairly in a case implicating generational harm from PCBs.
The plaintiffs in the trial were represented by attorneys Nick Rowley and Courtney Rowley of Trial Lawyers for Justice, while Monsanto was represented by the firm Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP. The case is officially recorded as Rose et al. v. Pharmacia LLC, in the King County Superior Court.
The Courtroom View Network, which provided gavel-to-gavel coverage of the trial, continues to offer unlimited on-demand access to numerous Monsanto PCB trials, among hundreds of other civil cases across the United States.
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