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Monsanto ordered to pay $289m damages in Roundup cancer trial | Monsanto ordered to pay $289m damages in Roundup cancer trial |
(35 minutes later) | |
Chemical giant Monsanto has been ordered to pay $289m (£226m) damages to a man who claimed herbicides containing glyphosate had caused his cancer. | Chemical giant Monsanto has been ordered to pay $289m (£226m) damages to a man who claimed herbicides containing glyphosate had caused his cancer. |
In a landmark case, a Californian jury found that Monsanto knew its Roundup and RangerPro weedkillers were dangerous and failed to warn consumers. | In a landmark case, a Californian jury found that Monsanto knew its Roundup and RangerPro weedkillers were dangerous and failed to warn consumers. |
It's the first lawsuit to go to trial alleging a glyphosate link to cancer. | It's the first lawsuit to go to trial alleging a glyphosate link to cancer. |
Monsanto denies that glyphosate causes cancer and says it intends to appeal against the ruling. | Monsanto denies that glyphosate causes cancer and says it intends to appeal against the ruling. |
"The jury got it wrong," vice-president Scott Partridge said outside the courthouse in San Francisco. | |
The claimant in the case, groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson, is among more than 5,000 similar plaintiffs across the US. | The claimant in the case, groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson, is among more than 5,000 similar plaintiffs across the US. |
Correspondents say the California ruling is likely to lead to hundreds of other claims against Monsanto, which was recently bought by the German conglomerate Bayer AG. | Correspondents say the California ruling is likely to lead to hundreds of other claims against Monsanto, which was recently bought by the German conglomerate Bayer AG. |
Mr Johnson was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014. His lawyers said he regularly used a form of RangerPro while working at a school in Benicia, California. | Mr Johnson was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014. His lawyers said he regularly used a form of RangerPro while working at a school in Benicia, California. |
Jurors found on Friday that the company had acted with "malice" and that its weedkillers contributed "substantially" to Mr Johnson's terminal illness. | |
Following an eight-week trial, the jury ordered the agricultural multi-national to pay $250m in punitive damages together with other costs that brought the total figure to almost $290m. | Following an eight-week trial, the jury ordered the agricultural multi-national to pay $250m in punitive damages together with other costs that brought the total figure to almost $290m. |
In a statement after the ruling, Monsanto said it was "sympathetic to Mr Johnson and his family" but it would "continue to vigorously defend this product, which has a 40-year history of safe use and continues to be a vital, effective and safe tool for farmers and others". | |
The use of glyphosate has long been controversial. | |
One UN study called the chemical "probably carcinogenic", although other scientists have said it is safe to use. | One UN study called the chemical "probably carcinogenic", although other scientists have said it is safe to use. |