On May 13, 2019, a California jury awarded over two billion dollars to a husband and wife who alleged that they each developed cancer as a result of decades of using Monsanto’s weed-killer Roundup.  The Alameda County, California jury concluded that Roundup likely caused the plaintiffs’ non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and awarded the couple $55 million in non-economic damages, $3.2 million in economic damages, and punitive damages of $2 billion against Monsanto.  The total award was more than double what the plaintiffs’ attorney suggested in closing arguments.  The case is the third case to be tried to a jury verdict involving Monsanto and Roundup with the prior two cases resulting in verdicts of $78 million and $80 million.  Over 13,000 more cases are pending against Monsanto that allege Roundup causes cancer.

For more information about the decision or the defense of toxic tort cases, please contact Andy Thompson.