© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Emblem of Bayer AG is pictured on the annual outcomes information convention of the German drugmaker in Leverkusen, Germany February 27, 2019. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photograph
By Brendan Pierson
(Reuters) – Bayer (OTC:) has received a trial in a lawsuit introduced by a California man who mentioned he developed most cancers from publicity to its Roundup weedkiller, ending what had been a five-trial dropping streak for the corporate in trials over related claims.
The decision was handed down on Friday by a jury in San Benito County, California Superior Court docket, Bayer introduced. The corporate mentioned in a press release that the decision was “in keeping with the proof on this case that Roundup doesn’t trigger most cancers and isn’t accountable for the plaintiff’s sickness.”
Legal professionals for plaintiff Bruce Jones didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. Like most plaintiffs in Roundup lawsuits, Jones alleged that the product induced him to develop a type of most cancers known as non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Round 165,000 claims have been made towards the corporate for private accidents allegedly brought on by Roundup, which Bayer acquired as a part of its $63 billion buy of U.S. agrochemical firm Monsanto (NYSE:) in 2018.
Earlier than its current string of losses, which produced verdicts towards the corporate totaling greater than $2 billion, Bayer had received 9 consecutive trials, which means it has now received 10 of the final 15 trials. Additional circumstances are anticipated to be tried within the coming yr.
Bayer is interesting the verdicts towards it, which embrace giant punitive damages awards which are more likely to be diminished as a result of they exceed U.S. Supreme Court docket steering.
The losses had led some traders to query Bayer’s authorized technique in defending the Roundup circumstances. The corporate mentioned final month that it will proceed combating the circumstances in courtroom and had “no urge for food to jot down humongous checks” to settle them.
In 2020, Bayer settled many of the then-pending Roundup circumstances for as much as $9.6 billion however didn’t get a settlement masking future circumstances. Greater than 50,000 claims stay pending.
