May 15, 2025 | 18:35 GMT +7

  • Click to copy
Wednesday- 16:24, 05/06/2024

Judge cuts Bayer $2.25 billion Roundup verdict to $400 million

(VAN)A Pennsylvania judge on Tuesday slashed a $2.25 billion U.S. verdict against Bayer opens new tab to $400 million for a Pennsylvania man who said he developed cancer from exposure to the company's Roundup weedkiller.
Bottles of Roundup, a brand owned by Bayer, are seen for sale in a store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., June 30, 2022.

Bottles of Roundup, a brand owned by Bayer, are seen for sale in a store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., June 30, 2022.

A jury in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas found that John McKivison's non-Hodgkins lymphoma was the result of using Roundup for yard work at his house for several years, and it ordered Bayer to pay $250 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages.

Judge Susan Schulman granted some of Bayer's post-trial motions challenging that verdict, reducing compensatory damages to $50 million and punitive damages to $350 million.

Bayer said it would continue to appeal to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, challenging the trial court's decision to allow the jury to hear what it called misleading and "inflammatory" testimony.

"While the court's decision reduces the unconstitutionally excessive damage award, we still disagree with the ruling on the liability verdict, as the trial was marred by significant and reversible errors," a Bayer spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Bayer also called for U.S. legislative reform to protect companies whose products comply with federal labeling requirements.

McKivison's attorneys, Tom Kline and Jason Itkin, said they were pleased that Schulman upheld the jury's finding that Roundup causes cancer. But they also intend to appeal, seeking a reinstatement of the $2.25 billion jury verdict.

"The reduction of the amount of the jury's verdict is a clear departure from established Pennsylvania law that we plan to address in an appeal," Kline and Itkin said in a joint statement.

Bayer has said that decades of studies have shown Roundup and its active ingredient, glyphosate, are safe for human use.

Roundup is among the most widely used weedkillers in the United States, though the company phased out its sales for home use last year.

Bayer has prevailed in 14 of the last 20 Roundup trials, but it also racked up a string of losses in late 2023 and early 2024, resulting in more than $4 billion in verdicts.

H.D

(Reuters)

Climate crisis threatens banana, world’s most popular fruit, research shows

Climate crisis threatens banana, world’s most popular fruit, research shows

(VAN) Fourth most important food crop in peril as Latin America and Caribbean suffer from slow-onset climate disaster.

Early nutrition research in poultry is speeding up

Early nutrition research in poultry is speeding up

(VAN) Shifting market dynamics and the noise around new legislation has propelled Trouw Nutrition’s research around early life nutrition in poultry. Today, it continues to be a key area of research.

Fears among India’s farmers rise over US food imports crossing ‘red line’

Fears among India’s farmers rise over US food imports crossing ‘red line’

(VAN) India is concerned about its food security and the livelihoods of its farmers if more US food imports are allowed.

FAO participates in ADB annual meeting, strengthens cooperation in key agricultural areas

FAO participates in ADB annual meeting, strengthens cooperation in key agricultural areas

(VAN) FAO's Director-General emphasises the need to work together to transform agrifood systems.

FAO warns: Enhanced awareness and action needed amid foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Europe and the Near East

FAO warns: Enhanced awareness and action needed amid foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Europe and the Near East

(VAN) Europe is facing its worst outbreak of foot-and-mouth since the start of the century.

Young talents need nurturing to drive rural vitalization

Young talents need nurturing to drive rural vitalization

(VAN) The central authorities, in early April, released a 10-year plan for rural vitalization.

Viterra carbon program achieves soy landmark

Viterra carbon program achieves soy landmark

(VAN) Viterra marked a significant milestone in its carbon measurement program in Argentina, called Ígaris, reaching 1 million soybean hectares measured.

Read more