SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A San Francisco jury's $289 million verdict in favor of a school groundskeeper who says Roundup weed killer caused his cancer will face its first court test.
Agribusiness giant Monsanto will argue at a hearing on Wednesday that Judge Suzanne Bolanos should throw out the verdict in favor of DeWayne Johnson. Attorneys for the company say Johnson failed to prove that Roundup or similar herbicides caused his lymphoma, and presented no evidence that Monsanto executives were malicious in marketing Roundup. Bolanos was not expected to rule immediately.
Johnson's attorneys responded in court documents that the jury was attentive and well-educated and reached a reasonable verdict.
The jury in August awarded Johnson $39 million in compensatory damages and $250 million in punitive damages.
Disclaimer: This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Associated Press (AP) wire.
