© 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 stated 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 Courtroom, Bayer introduced. The corporate stated in an announcement that the decision was “in keeping with the proof on this case that Roundup doesn’t trigger most cancers and isn’t chargeable for the plaintiff’s sickness.”
Attorneys for plaintiff Bruce Jones didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. Like most plaintiffs in Roundup lawsuits, Jones alleged that the product precipitated him to develop a type of most cancers known as non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Round 165,000 claims have been made in opposition to 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 in opposition to 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 instances are anticipated to be tried within the coming 12 months.
Bayer is interesting the verdicts in opposition to it, which embrace giant punitive damages awards which can be prone to be diminished as a result of they exceed U.S. Supreme Courtroom steerage.
The losses had led some buyers to query Bayer’s authorized technique in defending the Roundup instances. The corporate stated final month that it might proceed preventing the instances in court docket and had “no urge for food to put in writing humongous checks” to settle them.
In 2020, Bayer settled many of the then-pending Roundup instances for as much as $9.6 billion however did not get a settlement protecting future instances. Greater than 50,000 claims stay pending.