Key Takeaways:
- The original $2.25 billion jury verdict in McKivison v. Monsanto has been reduced to $400 million.
- Monsanto plans to appeal the decision to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
- The company argues significant errors in the trial misled the jury and inflated damage awards.
- Monsanto highlights a strong track record in litigation, winning 14 of the last 20 trials.
- The company emphasizes the safety of glyphosate-based products supported by scientific research and regulatory bodies.
McKivision v. Monsanto Verdict Reduction and Appeal Plans
In a significant development in the McKivison v. Monsanto litigation, Judge Susan Schulman of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas has reduced the original jury verdict from $2.25 billion to $400 million. The initial verdict, reached on January 26, 2024, included $250 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages. Monsanto, however, has announced plans to appeal the decision to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Monsanto’s statement following the court’s decision emphasized their disagreement with the liability verdict, citing significant errors during the trial. The company argued that these errors misled and inflamed the jury, leading to what it described as “excessive damage awards.”
Monsanto’s Position on Trial Outcomes and Regulatory Consensus
Monsanto reiterated that the company tends to prevail when trials are centered on scientific evidence and regulatory consensus. A company spokesperson noted, “It is clear that when trials focus on the science and regulatory consensus, the Company prevails as it has had favorable outcomes in 14 of the last 20 trials, including the last four, and has resolved the overwhelming majority of claims in this litigation.”
Need for Legislative Reform
Monsanto also highlighted the necessity for legislative reform to ensure that compliance with federal label requirements satisfies state warning requirements. The company expressed concern that the current legal landscape could lead to more verdicts and excessive awards, which could divert funds from crucial research and development efforts aimed at creating sustainable crop protection tools.
The company stressed, “By allowing this misapplication of the law to persist, our nation is needlessly driving up the cost of food and threatening its supply and innovation.”
Commitment to Product Safety
In its statement following the verdict of McKivison v. Monsanto, Monsanto defended the safety of its glyphosate-based products, citing the extensive body of scientific research and endorsements from leading health regulators. “The Company stands behind Roundup™ and the overwhelming weight of scientific research and assessments by leading health regulators and scientists, including both the EPA and the EU, that support the safety of glyphosate-based products,” the company stated.
They further noted that no regulatory authority independently evaluating glyphosate has found it to be carcinogenic. The European Union recently re-approved glyphosate for another 10 years, following favorable scientific assessments by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). These agencies did not identify any critical concerns impacting public health or the environment in their review of glyphosate in July 2023.
As Monsanto continues to navigate the legal challenges surrounding its products, the company remains firm in its commitment to upholding the safety and efficacy of its glyphosate-based offerings.
Photo by Eric Brehm on Unsplash
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