Bayer Breaks Losing Streak as California Jury Rules in Favor in Roundup Lawsuit

Bayer has secured a significant legal victory as it emerged triumphant in a trial related to a lawsuit filed by a California man who claimed to have developed cancer due to exposure to Bayer’s Roundup weedkiller. The verdict, delivered by a jury in San Benito County, California Superior Court on Friday, marks a pivotal moment for Bayer, bringing an end to a string of five consecutive trial losses over similar allegations.

In its official statement, Bayer declared that the jury’s decision aligns with the presented evidence, affirming that Roundup does not induce cancer and is not accountable for the plaintiff’s illness. The company has consistently maintained its position on the safety of Roundup amid a barrage of legal challenges.

The plaintiff in this case, Bruce Jones, alleged, like many others in Roundup-related lawsuits, that the herbicide was the cause behind his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lawyers representing Jones have not yet responded to requests for comments on the verdict.

This legal win comes against the backdrop of a staggering number of claims made against Bayer—approximately 165,000 in total. These claims revolve around personal injuries attributed to Roundup, a product Bayer inherited through its acquisition of U.S. agrochemical company Monsanto in a landmark $63 billion deal in 2018. The outcome of this trial holds significance for Bayer, signaling a potential turning point in the company’s legal battles related to Roundup.