Bayer snapped a run of five straight losses in Roundup trials with a jury verdict out of California finding the company was not liable for a man’s cancer.
“The jury’s verdict in favor of the company brings this trial to a successful conclusion and is consistent with the evidence in this case that Roundup does not cause cancer and is not responsible for the plaintiff’s illness,” Bayer said in a statement following the conclusion Friday of the case brought by Bruce Jones.
Bayer had been hit with five trial court losses, including more than $2 billion in judgments against it, after winning nine in a row. The company is appealing the cases.
The string of defeats has caused some trial lawyers and investors to question the wisdom of the company’s legal strategy.
But in its statement, Bayer said the verdict “continues the company’s strong record at trial, winning 10 of the last 15 cases, and validates its strategy of taking cases to trial based on the overwhelming weight of scientific and consistent worldwide regulatory support for the safety of these products. We continue to stand behind the safety of Roundup and will continue to confidently defend the safety of our products and our good-faith actions in future litigation.”
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In his complaint, filed in San Benito County Superior Court in January 2023, Hollister resident Jones alleged he had sprayed Roundup “around his ranch and multiple properties commercially on nearly a daily basis” between 1980 and 2021 when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Attorneys for Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
About 47,000 cases await adjudication, with more trials on tap in 2024.
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