Monsanto, a subsidiary of Bayer, will pay a couple more than $2 billion in damages as a result of a recent California jury verdict. The verdict marks the third such decision against the company linking Roundup weed killer to cancer since the middle of 2018 and another entry in an ongoing litany of corporations putting their profits ahead of the safety of consumers.
The injured couple, Alva and Alberta Pilliod, alleged that they contracted non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from their use of Roundup. The Alameda County jury agreed with them and found $1 billion in punitive damages for each of them along with $55 million in compensatory damages.
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The cloud hanging over Bayer will only grow bigger and darker, as more juries hear how Monsanto manipulated its own research, colluded with regulators and intimidated scientists to keep secret the cancer risks from glyphosate, Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, told NPR.
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Ask Tom Today!This latest verdict against Monsanto comes on the heels of two prior verdicts against the company in California since the middle of 2018: $80 million awarded to a man in March and another $289 million awarded to a plaintiff in August.
The amounts of these verdicts reflect efforts to punish Monsanto for behavior that is exceptionally reckless and hazardous to individuals who have used their products. Punitive damages, such as those awarded in the $2 billion verdict referenced above, are often awarded for the purpose of punishing an entity and in hopes of discouraging such behavior in the future.
Too often corporations will put consumers at risk in an effort to maximize their profits, hoping that they will not be held responsible for the damage they cause. Holding these corporations accountable provides an important safeguard and check on such corporations.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to a defective product or the negligence of another, contact our law firm today to learn more about protecting your legal rights. Our team of skilled legal experts are available and ready to help you understand the world of personal injury and product liability law.