Latest news with #Arnold&ItkinLLP
The Independent
24-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Man who claimed Roundup caused his cancer awarded $2.1billion
A man who claimed Roundup weedkiller caused his cancer has been awarded nearly $2.1 billion (£1.6bn) in compensation and damages by a US jury. The verdict marks the latest in a long-running series of court battles Monsanto has faced over its Roundup herbicide. The settlement is one of the largest to date. The agrochemical giant says it will appeal the verdict, reached in a Georgia courtroom on Friday. The penalties awarded include $65 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages, law firms Arnold & Itkin LLP and Kline & Specter PC said in a statement. Plaintiff John Barnes filed his lawsuit against Monsanto in 2021, seeking damages related to his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Arnold & Itkin attorney Kyle Findley, the lead trial lawyer on the case, said the verdict will help put his client in a better position to get the treatment he needs going forward. 'It's been a long road for him ... and he was happy that the truth related to the product (has) been exposed,' Findley said on Sunday. He called the verdict an 'important milestone' after "another example of Monsanto's refusal to accept responsibility for poisoning people with this toxic product.' Germany-based Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, has continued to dispute claims that Roundup causes cancer. But the company has been hit with more than 177,000 lawsuits involving the weedkiller and set aside $16 billion to settle cases. In a statement, Monsanto said Friday's verdict 'conflicts with the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and the consensus of regulatory bodies and their scientific assessments worldwide.' The company added that it continues 'to stand fully behind the safety' of Roundup products. For a variety of crops — including corn, soybeans and cotton — Roundup is designed to work with genetically modified seeds that resist the weedkiller's deadly effect. It allows farmers to produce more while conserving the soil by tilling it less. Some studies associate Roundup's key ingredient, glyphosate, with cancer, although the US Environmental Protection Agency has said it is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans when used as directed. Still, numerous lawsuits over the weedkiller allege glyphosate does cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma, arguing that Monsanto has failed to warn the public about serious risks for years. Friday's decision marks the fourth Roundup-related verdict that Findley's team has won to date — the largest of which was awarded in Philadelphia in January 2024, with damages totalling $2.25 billion. And he said his law firm has 'many more clients who are similarly situated as Mr. Barnes.' Monsanto, meanwhile, also maintains that it 'remains committed to trying cases' — and argues its wider record of Roundup-related litigation continues to reinforce the safety of its products. The company said it has prevailed in 17 of the last 25 related trials, while some previous damage awards have been reduced. Bayer has recently renewed and expanded an effort across a handful of US states to protect pesticide companies from claims they failed to warn that a product causes cancer, if labelling otherwise complies with EPA regulations. The company and other industry supports argue that litigation costs are unstainable and could impact Roundup's future availability. But opponents stress that such legislation would limit accountability.
CNN
24-03-2025
- Business
- CNN
Georgia jury orders Monsanto parent to pay nearly $2.1 billion in Roundup weedkiller lawsuit
A jury in Georgia has ordered Monsanto parent Bayer to pay nearly $2.1 billion in damages to a man who says the company's Roundup weed killer caused his cancer, according to attorneys representing the plaintiff. The verdict marks the latest in a long-running series of court battles Monsanto has faced over its Roundup herbicide. The agrochemical giant says it will appeal the verdict, reached in a Georgia courtroom late Friday, in efforts to overturn the decision. The penalties awarded include $65 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages, law firms Arnold & Itkin LLP and Kline & Specter PC said in a statement. That marks one of the largest legal settlements reached in a Roundup-related case to date. Plaintiff John Barnes filed his lawsuit against Monsanto in 2021, seeking damages related to his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Arnold & Itkin attorney Kyle Findley, the lead trial lawyer on the case, said the verdict will help put his client in a better position to get the treatment he needs going forward. 'It's been a long road for him … and he was happy that the truth related to the product (has) been exposed,' Findley told The Associated Press on Sunday. He called the verdict an 'important milestone' after 'another example of Monsanto's refusal to accept responsibility for poisoning people with this toxic product.' Germany-based Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, has continued to dispute claims that Roundup causes cancer. But the company has been hit with more than 177,000 lawsuits involving the weedkiller and set aside $16 billion to settle cases. In a statement, Monsanto said Friday's verdict 'conflicts with the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and the consensus of regulatory bodies and their scientific assessments worldwide.' The company added that it continues 'to stand fully behind the safety' of Roundup products. For a variety of crops — including corn, soybeans and cotton — Roundup is designed to work with genetically modified seeds that resist the weedkiller's deadly effect. It allows farmers to produce more while conserving the soil by tilling it less. Some studies associate Roundup's key ingredient, glyphosate, with cancer, although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said it is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans when used as numerous lawsuits over the weedkiller allege glyphosate does cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma, arguing that Monsanto has failed to warn the public about serious risks for years. Findley said that evidence relating to Barnes' case show 'many years of cover-ups' and 'backroom dealings.' He accused Monsanto of ignoring several scientific studies related to the toxicity of Roundup and said the company 'tried to find ways to persuade and distract and deny the connection between this product and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.' Friday's decision marks the fourth Roundup-related verdict that Findley's team has won to date — the largest of which was awarded in Philadelphia in January 2024, with damages totaling $2.25 billion. And he said his law firm has 'many more clients who are similarly situated as Mr. Barnes.' Monsanto, meanwhile, also maintains that it 'remains committed to trying cases' — and argues its wider record of Roundup-related litigation continues to reinforce the safety of its products. The company said it has prevailed in 17 of the last 25 related trials, while some previous damage awards have been reduced. Bayer has recently renewed and expanded an effort across a handful of U.S. states to protect pesticide companies from claims they failed to warn that a product causes cancer, if labeling otherwise complies with EPA regulations. The company and other industry supports argue that litigation costs are unstainable and could impact Roundup's future availability. But opponents stress that such legislation would limit accountability.
CNN
24-03-2025
- Business
- CNN
Georgia jury orders Monsanto parent to pay nearly $2.1 billion in Roundup weedkiller lawsuit
A jury in Georgia has ordered Monsanto parent Bayer to pay nearly $2.1 billion in damages to a man who says the company's Roundup weed killer caused his cancer, according to attorneys representing the plaintiff. The verdict marks the latest in a long-running series of court battles Monsanto has faced over its Roundup herbicide. The agrochemical giant says it will appeal the verdict, reached in a Georgia courtroom late Friday, in efforts to overturn the decision. The penalties awarded include $65 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages, law firms Arnold & Itkin LLP and Kline & Specter PC said in a statement. That marks one of the largest legal settlements reached in a Roundup-related case to date. Plaintiff John Barnes filed his lawsuit against Monsanto in 2021, seeking damages related to his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Arnold & Itkin attorney Kyle Findley, the lead trial lawyer on the case, said the verdict will help put his client in a better position to get the treatment he needs going forward. 'It's been a long road for him … and he was happy that the truth related to the product (has) been exposed,' Findley told The Associated Press on Sunday. He called the verdict an 'important milestone' after 'another example of Monsanto's refusal to accept responsibility for poisoning people with this toxic product.' Germany-based Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, has continued to dispute claims that Roundup causes cancer. But the company has been hit with more than 177,000 lawsuits involving the weedkiller and set aside $16 billion to settle cases. In a statement, Monsanto said Friday's verdict 'conflicts with the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and the consensus of regulatory bodies and their scientific assessments worldwide.' The company added that it continues 'to stand fully behind the safety' of Roundup products. For a variety of crops — including corn, soybeans and cotton — Roundup is designed to work with genetically modified seeds that resist the weedkiller's deadly effect. It allows farmers to produce more while conserving the soil by tilling it less. Some studies associate Roundup's key ingredient, glyphosate, with cancer, although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said it is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans when used as numerous lawsuits over the weedkiller allege glyphosate does cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma, arguing that Monsanto has failed to warn the public about serious risks for years. Findley said that evidence relating to Barnes' case show 'many years of cover-ups' and 'backroom dealings.' He accused Monsanto of ignoring several scientific studies related to the toxicity of Roundup and said the company 'tried to find ways to persuade and distract and deny the connection between this product and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.' Friday's decision marks the fourth Roundup-related verdict that Findley's team has won to date — the largest of which was awarded in Philadelphia in January 2024, with damages totaling $2.25 billion. And he said his law firm has 'many more clients who are similarly situated as Mr. Barnes.' Monsanto, meanwhile, also maintains that it 'remains committed to trying cases' — and argues its wider record of Roundup-related litigation continues to reinforce the safety of its products. The company said it has prevailed in 17 of the last 25 related trials, while some previous damage awards have been reduced. Bayer has recently renewed and expanded an effort across a handful of U.S. states to protect pesticide companies from claims they failed to warn that a product causes cancer, if labeling otherwise complies with EPA regulations. The company and other industry supports argue that litigation costs are unstainable and could impact Roundup's future availability. But opponents stress that such legislation would limit accountability.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bayer ordered to pay $3b in Roundup weedkiller lawsuit
A jury has ordered Bayer to pay $A3.3 billion in damages to a US man who says the company's Roundup weed killer caused his cancer. The verdict in the US state of Georgia marks the latest in a long-running series of court battles Monsanto has faced over its Roundup herbicide. Germany-based Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, has continued to dispute claims that Roundup causes cancer. The agrochemical giant says it will appeal the verdict, reached in a Georgia courtroom on Friday. The penalties awarded include $US65 million ($A104 million) in compensatory damages and $US2 billion ($A3.2 billion) in punitive damages, law firms Arnold & Itkin LLP and Kline & Specter PC said in a statement. That marks one of the largest legal settlements reached in a Roundup-related case to date. Plaintiff John Barnes filed his lawsuit against Monsanto in 2021, seeking damages related to his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Arnold & Itkin lawyer Kyle Findley, the lead trial lawyer on the case, said the verdict would help his client get the treatment he needs. "It's been a long road for him ... and he was happy that the truth related to the product (has) been exposed," Findley told The Associated Press on Sunday. He called the verdict an "important milestone" after "another example of Monsanto's refusal to accept responsibility for poisoning people with this toxic product". But the company has been hit with more than 177,000 lawsuits involving the weedkiller and set aside $US16 billion ($A25 billion) to settle cases. Monsanto said Friday's verdict "conflicts with the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and the consensus of regulatory bodies and their scientific assessments worldwide". The company said it continued "to stand fully behind the safety" of Roundup products. For a variety of crops — including corn, soybeans and cotton — Roundup is designed to work with genetically modified seeds that resist the weedkiller's deadly effect. It allows farmers to produce more while conserving the soil by tilling it less. Some studies associate Roundup's key ingredient, glyphosate, with cancer, although the US Environmental Protection Agency has said it is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans when used as directed. Still, numerous lawsuits over the weedkiller allege glyphosate does cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma, arguing that Monsanto has failed to warn the public about serious risks for years. Findley said that evidence relating to Barnes' case show "many years of cover-ups" and "backroom dealings". He accused Monsanto of ignoring several scientific studies related to the toxicity of Roundup and said the company "tried to find ways to persuade and distract and deny the connection between this product and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma". Friday's decision marks the fourth Roundup-related verdict that Findley's team has won. The largest case was awarded in Philadelphia in January 2024, with damages totalling $US2.25 billion ($A3.58 billion). Findley said his law firm had "many more clients who are similarly situated as Mr Barnes." Monsanto said it had prevailed in 17 of the last 25 related trials, while some previous damage awards had been reduced. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bayer hit with $2 billion Roundup verdict in US state of Georgia cancer case
BERLIN (Reuters) -Bayer was ordered by a jury in the U.S. state of Georgia to pay about $2.1 billion to a plaintiff who claimed the company's Roundup weed killer caused his cancer, the plaintiff's law firms said late on Friday. The verdict, which Bayer said on Saturday it would appeal, is one of the largest legal settlements issued in a Roundup-related case and is the latest setback for the group, among the world's largest seeds and pesticides makers. Bayer has paid about $10 billion to settle disputed claims that Roundup, based on the herbicide glyphosate, causes cancer. Over 60,000 further cases are pending for which the group has set aside $5.9 billion in legal provisions. The Georgia verdict includes $65 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages, according to a statement emailed to Reuters by the plaintiff's law firms Arnold & Itkin LLP and Kline & Specter PC. Bayer said in a statement it disagreed with the jury's verdict, as it conflicted with the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and the consensus of regulatory bodies and their scientific assessments worldwide. "We believe that we have strong arguments on appeal to get this verdict overturned and the excessive and unconstitutional damage awards eliminated or reduced," it said. Earlier this month, Bayer told U.S. lawmakers it could stop selling Roundup unless they strengthened legal protection against product liability litigation, a financial analyst and person close to the matter told Reuters.
