Bayer has again been ordered to pay high compensation in the USA for the weed killer Roundup, which contains glyphosate. A court awarded a plaintiff $2.2 billion. The group wants to appeal.
The US chemical company Monsanto, which was bought by Bayer, has once again been ordered to pay high damages in the USA because of the weed killer Roundup, which contains glyphosate. The plaintiff’s lawyers said a Philadelphia jury concluded that the company must pay $2.25 billion to the Pennsylvania plaintiff. It is the highest amount to date that the company has to pay in the dispute over the drug. According to his own statements, the man developed cancer after coming into contact with the weedkiller containing glyphosate.
The court ruled that his cancer was the result of several years of using Roundup for gardening in his home. “The jury’s punitive damages award sends a clear message that this multinational corporation needs fundamental change,” said Tom Kline and Jason Itkin, the plaintiff’s attorneys, in a joint statement. The verdict specifically provides for compensatory damages of $250 million and punitive damages of $2 billion.
Bayer wants to appeal
The Bayer Group announced that it would appeal. A spokesman criticized the verdict as contradicting the scientific findings and assessments of the authorities. The company has long been exposed to similar lawsuits in the USA. “We are convinced that we have strong arguments on appeal to overturn this judgment or at least reduce the unconstitutionally excessive damages,” said Bayer’s statement. Even in cases that have been lost so far, the total damages have been reduced by more than 90 percent. Bayer points out that the company has prevailed in court in 10 of the most recent 16 cases.
Bayer acquired Roundup manufacturer Monsanto for $63 billion in 2018 and has been mired in legal proceedings ever since. The company was sentenced to pay damages in a number of glyphosate judgments, but was acquitted in other cases. Settlements were concluded in numerous cases. Bayer had always rejected the allegations against the herbicide.