Atlanta, GA — In a landmark decision, Bayer, the parent company of Monsanto, has been ordered by a jury to pay nearly $2.1 billion in damages to a Georgia man who claims its widely used Roundup weed killer caused his cancer. The verdict, delivered late Friday in a Georgia courtroom, is one of the highest in ongoing legal battles surrounding the herbicide’s safety.
The damages awarded to plaintiff John Barnes total $65 million in compensatory and $2 billion in punitive damages, his attorneys from Arnold & Itkin LLP and Kline & Specter PC reported. Barnes, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, filed the lawsuit in 2021 claiming that Monsanto failed to warn of the risks associated with its product, despite evidence suggesting its harmful effects.
Lead trial attorney Kyle Findley described the verdict as an essential step forward. He highlighted that the decision underscores the jury’s recognition of the alleged harm caused by the product and Monsanto’s purported neglect in addressing its toxic potential.
Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, reiterated its stance that scientific studies and regulatory approvals support Roundup’s safety, citing the overwhelming weight of evidence disagreeing with the jury’s decision. They announced plans to appeal the verdict, maintaining their belief in the herbicide’s safety.
The controversy surrounding Roundup largely hinges on its key ingredient glyphosate, which some studies have linked to cancer. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has previously indicated glyphosate is unlikely to be carcinogenic to humans under directed use, litigations contest these findings, arguing Monsanto long ignored risks and failed to warn users.
The current verdict in Georgia is part of a broader series of legal challenges the company faces concerning Roundup. Previously, Bayer set aside $16 billion to settle similar claims. Findley pointed out that evidence in Barnes’ case suggested years of corporate disregard towards health concerns possibly linked with Roundup, which they allegedly attempted to counteract through various means, including discrediting risk studies.
Monsanto’s counterarguments extend beyond this case, as they emphasize their judiciary successes in other trials and their commitment to defend Roundup’s reputation. According to the company, they have prevailed in 17 out of the last 25 lawsuits, although some damage awards in other cases were decreased on appeal.
The outcome of this case and ongoing litigation could influence future regulations and market conditions for Roundup. Bayer continues to push for protective legal measures in several U.S. states, arguing that excessive litigation costs concerning product safety warnings compliant with EPA standards could render the weedkiller’s future uncertain. Critics, however, argue that such legislative efforts would decrease corporate accountability.
This verdict marks another significant chapter in the saga surrounding one of the most widely used herbicides globally, underscoring the growing disputes over chemical safety in agricultural practices and the accountability of corporations in safeguarding public health.
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