Jury Orders Monsanto to Pay Record $2.2 Billion in Roundup Cancer Case

In a groundbreaking verdict, a Pennsylvania jury ordered Bayer AG’s Monsanto unit to pay over $2.2 billion to John McKivison, a former user of the weedkiller Roundup, who attributed his cancer to the product. This is the largest verdict in five years of litigation surrounding the herbicide. McKivison, a 49-year-old former landscaper, was awarded $250 million for compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages.

This case is one of the few losses for Monsanto in recent Roundup trials, despite the company winning 10 of 16 cases. However, past losses include a substantial $1.5 billion verdict in Missouri. Monsanto, acquired by Bayer in 2018, faces continued legal challenges, with the next trial set in Delaware.

The verdict highlights the ongoing liability challenges Bayer faces following its acquisition of Monsanto. Despite scientific evidence and regulatory assessments supporting Roundup’s safety, the jury’s decision underscores the legal and financial risks Bayer continues to encounter. Bayer disagrees with the verdict, citing conflicting scientific evidence, and plans to appeal.

Previous cases, such as a 2019 California jury awarding $2.055 billion to a couple, which was later reduced to $87 million, demonstrate the fluctuating nature of these lawsuits. Bayer’s stock value was impacted by the litigation, and the company has allocated up to $16 billion for resolving Roundup-related cases. This includes a second wave of lawsuits focusing on the herbicide’s active ingredient, glyphosate, as a potential carcinogen.

McKivison’s case, supported by evidence of his extensive use of Roundup both professionally and personally, adds to the ongoing debate about glyphosate’s safety. Internal documents from Monsanto suggest the company attempted to influence scientific studies on glyphosate, further complicating the legal landscape.

Bayer CEO Bill Anderson is actively reviewing the company’s strategy to navigate these challenges and restore investor confidence.