In a significant legal decision, a Georgia jury has mandated that Bayer, the parent company of Monsanto, pay approximately $2.1 billion in compensation to an individual who claims that the herbicide Roundup, produced by Monsanto, was the cause of his cancer. The attorneys representing the claimant have confirmed this development.
The case represents the latest in an ongoing legal struggle surrounding Monsanto’s widely-used Roundup weed killer. Despite the decision, Monsanto, a major player in the agrochemical industry, plans to challenge the ruling by filing an appeal. The goal is to have the decision reversed by pursuing it through the legal system.
The jury has awarded John Barnes, the plaintiff, $65 million in compensatory damages, in addition to $2 billion in punitive damages, according to a joint statement from the law firms Arnold & Itkin LLP and Kline & Specter PC. This verdict is notable for being one of the largest of its kind against Monsanto concerning Roundup’s alleged health risks.
The lawsuit was initiated by John Barnes in 2021. He sought compensation for health issues related to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which he attributes to Roundup. Kyle Findley, a prominent attorney from Arnold & Itkin representing Barnes, expressed that the verdict provides his client with an opportunity to obtain necessary medical treatment in the future. Findley emphasized that the case highlights Monsanto’s alleged accountability regarding the product’s safety claims, considering this result a pivotal development in the ongoing legal challenges against the company.
Although Bayer, a corporation headquartered in Germany that purchased Monsanto in 2018, remains opposed to allegations linking Roundup with cancer, the company is currently dealing with a substantial number of similar lawsuits—more than 177,000 in total. Bayer has allocated $16 billion to handle these legal cases.
In response to the verdict, Monsanto issued a statement arguing that the jury’s decision in Georgia is at odds with the substantial body of scientific evidence and the views of regulatory agencies worldwide. The company reiterated its firm stance on Roundup’s safety, emphasizing its continued support for the product.
Roundup, intended for a variety of crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton, is designed to work in conjunction with genetically modified seeds. These seeds are engineered to resist the herbicide’s effects, thereby enabling increased agricultural productivity and reduced soil disruption through minimal tilling.
Scientific studies are divided over Roundup’s main ingredient, glyphosate, with some findings associating it with cancer despite the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s stance that, when used as instructed, it is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans. However, numerous lawsuits claim the opposite, contending that Monsanto did not adequately warn the public about potential severe health risks, especially concerning non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Findley highlights the case’s evidence, proposing that Monsanto overlooked vital scientific research concerning Roundup’s toxicity. He accuses the company of attempting to mislead the public about the links between glyphosate and cancer. He expressed satisfaction at having made significant progress in exposing these alleged cover-ups.
Friday’s decision adds to a list of victories for Findley’s legal team, including a landmark $2.25 billion judgment in a Philadelphia case in January 2024. The lawyer confirmed his firm’s commitment to representing additional clients making similar claims against Monsanto.
Monsanto, on its part, insists on its pledge to litigate Roundup-related cases, confident in the overall safety profile of its products. The company reports favorable outcomes in a substantial portion of prior trials and highlights significant reductions in jury awards.
Amid growing litigation, Bayer has extended an initiative in various U.S. states seeking to safeguard pesticide manufacturers from cancer-related product warnings as long as labels comply with EPA standards. The industry advocates for this, arguing the potential financial consequences of ongoing lawsuits on Roundup’s market availability. However, critics argue that such legal protections could reduce corporate accountability.
This article was originally published in late March 2025 and was subsequently revised to correct information regarding the jury’s verdict.