BAYER ORDERED BY JURY TO PAY $2 BILLION IN DAMAGES IN LATEST ROUNDUP TRIAL
Bayer AG was ordered to pay more than $2 billion in damages to a California couple who claim they developed cancer as a result of using the company’s Roundup weedkiller for about 30 years.
This is the third consecutive trial in a row that Bayer has lost due to claims Roundup causes cancer.
A jury in Oakland, California, issued the verdict today after two previous California trials yielded combined damages against the company of $159 million.
The jurors agreed that Alva and Alberta Pillion’s use of Roundup for 30 years of residential landscaping was a “substantial factor” in their development of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Their lawyer sought damages of approximately $55 million for the couple’s medical bills and pain and suffering and $1 billion to punish the company.
Monsanto Co., the maker of Roundup acquired by Bayer last June, is the named defendant in similar U.S. lawsuits filed by at least 13,400 plaintiffs.
While it was a “risky move” to ask for an award of more than $1 billion, the three verdicts against Bayer show jurors are convinced by evidence against the company, said Anna Pavlik, senior counsel for special situations at United First Partners LLC in New York.
“In this case, there appeared to be more detailed evidence damaging to Monsanto, which strengthens plaintiffs’ cases down the pipeline even further,” said Pavlik, who has followed the trials.
An award of $2 billion will be vulnerable to a legal challenge by Bayer because past judgments courts have generally held that punitive damages shouldn’t be more than 10 times higher than compensatory damages.
If you or a loved one developed cancer or suffered from health complications after using a product, it is important to speak with an attorney who specializes in dangerous drug litigation.
When represented by The Potts Law Firm, your case will be examined both legally and medically. Our experienced medical team will examine your medical records, while our legal professionals assist you through the entire litigation process.
Contact The Potts Law Firm today to schedule a free legal consultation at (888) 420-1299.
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