A California judge has dramatically reduced a $332 million Roundup lawsuit award to $28 million, ruling in favor of Bayer AG's Monsanto unit against claims linking the weedkiller to cancer.
Jef Feeley reports for Bloomberg News.
In short:
- The punitive damages awarded to a former land surveyor were reduced from $325 million to $28 million, citing a violation of due process.
- This reduction follows a series of significant legal defeats for Monsanto, with recent jury verdicts reaching billions.
- Bayer, insisting on Roundup's safety, plans to appeal for further reduction, amidst a growing number of lawsuits.
Key quote:
“Plaintiff’s award of $325 million in punitive damages violates due process by lacking a ‘reasonable relationship’ to the $7 million in compensatory damages awarded and exceeds the constitutional threshold.”
— Trial judge, Kevin Enright
Why this matters:
The ongoing legal battles over Roundup are part of a larger narrative on corporate accountability and consumer safety, reflecting growing scrutiny over the health impacts of everyday chemicals. Read more on glyphosate's cancer linkage.
