December 8, 2024 – Mistrial Declared in Chicago Roundup Case
A Chicago Roundup trial ended in a mistrial after the defense introduced an irrelevant and prejudicial reference to a past alcohol-related criminal charge against the plaintiff during cross-examination. The judge condemned this action as “serious misconduct,” stating it unfairly prejudiced the jury, and warned the defense against further improper tactics.
The plaintiffs argued that the mention of the charge, which had no relevance to the case, served only to bias the jury and warranted a mistrial. Legal experts criticized Monsanto’s attorneys for the move, noting that such evidence is inadmissible under basic rules of evidence.
November 16, 2024 – Monsanto Wins in Philadelphia
In the Womack trial held in Philadelphia, Monsanto secured a victory against claims related to Roundup exposure. Despite being represented by experienced plaintiffs’ attorneys and following a previous $78 million verdict in a similar case, the trial presented challenges. The plaintiff’s claim was based on only ten residential uses of Roundup starting in 2015, making it a more difficult case to win. While this outcome highlights the complexities of such litigation, it’s a reminder that not every trial will result in a plaintiff’s victory.
November 1, 2024 – Six New Cases Added to MDL
The Roundup multidistrict litigation (MDL) saw six new cases added in October 2024, bringing the total number of pending cases to 4,355. This relatively small increase reflects the ongoing but slowing pace of new claims being filed. The MDL continues to serve as a hub for handling the large number of Roundup lawsuits, streamlining the process for plaintiffs seeking justice for damages caused by the weed killer.
October 24, 2024 – Massachusetts Court Aligns with 3rd Circuit on Preemption
A Massachusetts state court ruled that federal law preempts a plaintiff’s claims that Monsanto failed to warn about the dangers of Roundup, delivering a setback for the plaintiff. While the court allowed design defect claims to proceed, losing the failure-to-warn argument weakens the case significantly.
The decision aligns with the 3rd Circuit’s ruling in Schaffner v. Monsanto, raising concerns among legal experts. Critics fear this precedent could encourage more courts to adopt similar rulings, providing judges inclined to protect corporations like Monsanto with a stronger legal basis for dismissing failure-to-warn claims.