Latest news with #Roundup-related
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tennessee lawmakers postpone pesticide bill until 2026
Nearly 170,000 lawsuits have been filed against Bayer, parent company of the weedkiller Roundup, over claims the product causes cancer. (Photo Illustration by) Chemical companies seeking legal immunity from Roundup-related lawsuits will have to wait a year to get their way in Tennessee. The House Judiciary Committee opted Tuesday to postpone legislation until 2026 enabling Bayer/Monsanto to avoid liability in lawsuits connected to cancer claims. Republican Rep. Clay Doggett of Pulaski called for the delay less than a week after the full Senate passed its version of the bill. 'I felt like there was a lot of stakeholders, there was a lot of questions that we had that didn't get answered,' Doggett said Tuesday. Tennessee bill would expand weed-killer manufacturers' legal immunity Germany-based Bayer, the parent company of Monsanto, recently agreed to pay nearly $2.1 billion to a man who claimed he contracted non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from Roundup. Some 170,000 similar lawsuits have been filed against the chemical company. Under the legislation, though, as long as a pesticide manufacturer's federally-approved label doesn't warn of a disease, they couldn't be held liable for causing an illness. Farmers in his rural Middle Tennessee district supported the bill, Doggett said. Yet lawmakers were overwhelmed with information about the bill, making it difficult to bring it to a vote this year, he said. For instance, Republican Rep. Gino Bulso, a Brentwood attorney, told lawmakers a provision in state law gives people standing to sue in federal court. Doggett also added that he favors an amendment to the measure that dropped a 'blanket immunity' provision for the companies involved. Doggett conceded that farmers could be 'more prone' to contract illnesses from spraying the pesticide/herbicide. Yet he said farmers in his district support the legislation and use of the chemical, and he added that other lawmakers said foreign countries will continue using the product on their crops even if it vanishes in America. Farmers and the Farm Bureau testified previously that the Roundup used in modern agriculture enables no-till farming on larger tracts, which is considered a more efficient method. The House bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Rusty Grills of Newbern in West Tennessee, called the outcome 'part of the legislative process.' 'There's lots of questions people have that they didn't feel like they got adequate answers to, so knowing that, we're at the end of the session now, so there's not a whole lot of time to get answers,' Grills said. The bill can be brought back for consideration in 2026 since it wasn't voted down. Critics have said they believe it gives Bayer and Monsanto blanket immunity to lawsuits. But Grills said rather than a giveaway to the company, the legislation would put an end to frivolous lawsuits and stave off a day when farmers can't use preferred products because of the threat of legal action against manufacturers. 'I'm one of those farmers. We use these products, and because we use those products, we're able to make a living,' Grills said. A Tennessee Farm Bureau lobbyist testified recently that the Senate bill would avert only cases involving product labels approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Opponents of the legislation say it will remove people's constitutional rights to a jury trial when they're diagnosed with deadly illnesses caused by the product. Legislatures in Iowa, Missouri, Idaho, Wyoming and Mississippi have turned down similar bills, yet Bayer-Monsanto hasn't pulled products from shelves, leaving opponents to say the chemical maker is more concerned with increasing earnings than protecting people. The Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association testified in the Senate that opponents don't believe the products should be banned, only that customers should maintain their right to take legal action. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Euronews
25-03-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Bayer ordered to pay €1.9 billion by US court in Roundup cancer case
ADVERTISEMENT German agricultural and pharmaceutical giant Bayer has been instructed by a state court in the US state of Georgia to shell out $2.1 billion (€1.9bn) in a case regarding its Roundup weed killer, according to reports. This is one of the biggest Roundup-related settlements Bayer has faced so far and was ordered by the State Court of Cobb County. It includes $2bn (€1.9bn) in punitive damages, as well as $65 million (€60m) in compensatory damages. Bayer's share price plunged 6.4% on the Frankfurt stock exchange on Monday morning. The case was brought by a plaintiff who believed that the weed killer was responsible for his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Roundup has been heavily criticised as it is based on the herbicide glyphosate, which may cause cancer, although Bayer has consistently maintained that this is not the case. Another impacted consumer, William B O'Neil, CEO of O'Neil Strategic Solutions, said in a LinkedIn post: 'I used Bayer's Roundup for decades. It was a great way to kill weeds easily and if you had a larger lot, or lots, it made quick work of it too." "The problem is, it was marketed as a safe and efficient chemical around the home," O'Neil explained. 'Like many others, I would strap a tank on my back and pump spray around the properties. No mask, no gloves. Now cancer. I was diagnosed with large b-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.' Related Eurozone consumer confidence falls more than expected in March The company has already shelled out around $10bn (€9.2bn) so far in cancer-related Roundup cases, however, thousands of other cases against the weed killer are still waiting to be settled. For these remaining cases, Bayer has reserved about $5.9bn (€5.4bn) for legal costs. However, there are concerns about Bayer's ability to pay similar settlements for these pending cases, given the sheer volume of cases. Bayer has revealed that it will be appealing the verdict, citing scientific evidence, as well as the consensus of global regulatory bodies. The company also believes that the compensatory and punitive damages are too high while also being unconstitutional and will try to get them either decreased or removed completely. Euronews has contacted Bayer for comment. Roundup may be axed, Bayer says Bayer has faced considerable backlash over its 2018 acquisition of US agrochemical company Monsanto, which developed Roundup. The deal was worth $63bn (€58.1bn) at the time, however, Bayer is now having to pay out several billions in Roundup-related lawsuit settlements. This has led to the company warning US lawmakers that it could be forced to stop selling Roundup if it does not receive better protection from lawsuits claiming that the weed killer causes cancer. It has also argued that state laws should not be invoked in lawsuits, since the federal US Environmental Protection Agency has already approved glyphosate as safe for use, along with foreign regulators. If Bayer pulls the plug on Roundup, it could have significant consequences for US agriculture, as an overwhelming majority of cotton, corn and soybean acres currently depend on glyphosate.
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.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GA jury awards nearly $2.1 billion verdict to man who says Roundup weedkiller caused his cancer
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. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 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. TRENDING STORIES: Wildfire contained after threatening dozens of homes in Floyd County Tucker man says his truck was stolen while he was just feet away at a restaurant 17-year-old arrested after shootout leaves teen dead in DeKalb County 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 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.' [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] 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.
