A Washington jury awarded $100 million to four plaintiffs who said PCBs at a Seattle-area school caused serious health issues, while finding Bayer not liable for 11 other claims.
Brendan Pierson and Dietrich Knauth report for Reuters.
In short:
- PCBs from old light fixtures at Sky Valley Education Center allegedly caused cancer, thyroid problems and neurological issues in more than 200 individuals.
- The jury found Monsanto, owned by Bayer, intentionally concealed PCB dangers and awarded $25 million in compensatory damages and $75 million in punitive damages.
- Bayer plans to appeal, arguing PCB levels were safe and that the school ignored warnings to retrofit the aging building.
Key quote:
"Every case is different and the juries are clearly working very hard to try to get things right for the generational harm caused by PCBs."
— Henry Jones, plaintiffs' attorney
Why this matters:
PCBs, banned by the U.S. in 1979, are linked to cancer and other health risks. Legal cases like this highlight the battle for corporate accountability when it comes to environmental toxins and the lasting impacts of PCBs on public health.
Related: A Massachusetts town is confronting industrial giants over toxics in its waters
