Jury

Seattle Jury Awards $100 Million in Landmark PCB Exposure Case Against Monsanto at Washington School

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Seattle, Washington — In a significant legal decision, a Seattle court has ordered Monsanto to pay $100 million in damages to plaintiffs who claim they were exposed to harmful chemicals at a local educational facility. This case, involving individuals connected to the Sky Valley Education Center in Monroe, marks the 10th lawsuit over health issues allegedly caused by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found in certain building materials at the school. The lawsuit, formally known as Rose v. Pharmacia, includes over 200 current and former students, teachers, and parents from the Sky Valley Education Center. They allege … Read more

Jury Orders Bayer to Pay $100 Million Over PCB Contamination in Washington Schools

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A jury has ordered Bayer to pay $100 million in damages after finding the company responsible for health and environmental hazards caused by PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, in a Washington state school. The verdict, reached late Friday, marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal battles concerning toxic substances. Polychlorinated biphenyls, commonly known as PCBs, were once widely used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications, including in the construction of school buildings. The case against Bayer, which now owns Monsanto, the company that produced the chemicals, focused primarily on the contamination and the … Read more

8th Circuit Court Slashes $5M Jury Award Down to Under $1M Due to Statute of Limitations

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. — In a significant legal setback, a plaintiff’s $5 million jury award was drastically reduced to less than $1 million due to the statute of limitations, according to a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The case involved James Kellar, who pursued legal action against a financial advisory firm for failing to properly manage his retirement funds, ultimately leading to significant losses. Originally, the jury awarded Kellar $5 million in damages after finding the firm liable. However, this victory was short-lived as the appeals court reviewed the … Read more

Contra Costa County Calls for Citizens to Shape Local Governance as Civil Grand Jury Applications Open for 2025-26

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Martinez, Calif. — Residents of Contra Costa County have the opportunity to directly shape their local government by serving on the Civil Grand Jury for the fiscal year 2025-26. The Superior Court of Contra Costa County is opening the application process for this oversight body, which plays a crucial role in examining the operations of various local governmental bodies including city and county administrations and school districts. The Civil Grand Jury, comprising 19 members, serves from July to June each year. Its main tasks are to inspect, evaluate, and report on the functioning and efficiency … Read more