Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – A Philadelphia jury has awarded a $2.25 billion verdict to a Pennsylvania man who claims that his cancer was caused by Bayer’s Roundup weed killer. John McKivison, 49, filed a lawsuit against Monsanto Company, which is owned by Bayer, after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. McKivison’s lawyers, Tom Kline and Jason Itkin, stated in a joint statement that their client had used Roundup on his property for 20 years.
The jury, in a unanimous verdict delivered on Friday, found Monsanto guilty of “50 years of misconduct.” The verdict includes punitive damages amounting to $2 billion. Kline and Itkin characterized the jury’s decision as a condemnation of Monsanto’s recklessness towards human safety and its substantial contribution to McKivison’s cancer.
This verdict sends a strong message to the multi-national corporation, according to the attorneys. They believe the substantial amount of the award emphasizes the need for comprehensive change within the company.
Bayer has faced numerous lawsuits regarding the alleged carcinogenic effects of Roundup. The company has repeatedly defended the safety of its product, citing scientific studies that support its claims. However, the verdict in this case adds to a string of recent legal defeats for Bayer.
While the $2.25 billion verdict is significantly higher than previous awards, it may still be subject to challenges and appeals. It is unclear at this time whether Bayer plans to contest the decision. The company already faces thousands of similar lawsuits across the United States.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, does not pose a cancer risk when used according to label instructions. However, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” in 2015.
The outcome of this case could have implications for future lawsuits against Bayer. It remains to be seen how this verdict will impact the company’s position and influence the ongoing debate surrounding the safety of Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides.