Monsanto to pay $100M in PCB exposure verdict

Monsanto verdict overview:

• Who: A Washington state jury ordered Monsanto to pay $100 million to four people who claim they developed various health issues from PCB exposure at a school facility.
• Why: The jury found Monsanto liable for supplying an unsafe product that was defectively designed and failing to provide adequate warnings or instructions.
• Where: The Monsanto verdict came in Washington state court.

A Washington state jury ordered Monsanto to pay $100 million to four people who claim they developed various health issues from polychlorinated biphenyls exposure at a school facility in the state.

The Jan. 14 verdict is less than the $4 billion requested by a total of 15 plaintiffs but adds to the $1.1 billion in losses Monsanto already faces over the school, Law360 reports. 

The jury award includes $25 million in compensatory damages to four plaintiffs who argue were PCBs in aging light fixtures at the Sky Valley Education Center sickened them. 

The 12-member jury determined Monsanto injured the plaintiffs by supplying an unsafe and defectively designed product and failing to provide adequate warnings or instructions. 

Jurors also awarded $75 million in punitive damages, finding the company injured the plaintiffs by intentionally misrepresenting facts or concealing information about PCBs, Law360 reports. 

Pharmacia LLC, a corporate spinoff Monsanto agreed to defend, is the lone defendant in the case. 

Monsanto argued it could not be held liable under Washington’s statute of repose

Monsanto argued it could not be held liable for any harm PCBs caused under Washington’s statute of repose for product liability claims, which holds a manufacturer cannot be held liable for harm caused beyond the “useful safe life” of a product. 

The plaintiffs included 15 individuals from five families who argued PCB exposure caused them to suffer a variety of health problems, including brain and gastrointestinal injuries and nervous system issues, Law360 reports. 

Monsanto reportedly says it is pleased the jury ruled in its favor on 11 of the 15 plaintiffs and plans to pursue an appeal if necessary to get the verdict for the four plaintiffs overturned or the damages reduced. 

In November 2023, a jury ordered Pharmacia to pay $165 million to a group of former Sky Valley Education Center employees after a jury similarly ruled the company was liable for selling an unsafe product without providing adequate warning. 

What do you think of the jury’s $100 million Monsanto verdict? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Henry Jones, Sean Gamble, Richard Friedman, James Hertz and Ronald Park of Friedman Rubin PLLP, Colleen Durkin Peterson and Bridget Grotz of Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC and Nicholas Rowley, Courtney Rowley and Theresa Hatch of Trial Lawyers for Justice.

The Monsanto verdict is In re: Gunnar L.G. Rose, et al. v. Pharmacia LLC, Case No. 87281-8, in King County Superior Court.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• SharkNinja lawsuit claims blender caused woman to lose vision in left eye
• Chervon lithium-ion batteries can catch fire, class action claims
• Jury awards woman $56M for Sunbeam pressure cooker explosion
• Roundup herbicide injured thousands across U.S., lawsuit claims