Bayer to problem $275 million U.S. jury verdict over PCB harm claims By Reuters

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Germany’s Bayer (OTC:) mentioned on Friday it plans to legally problem a jury verdict awarding $275 million to a gaggle of individuals claiming they suffered from publicity to PCB, a chemical that Bayer’s Monsanto (NYSE:) enterprise produced till 1977.

Bloomberg and different media retailers on Thursday reported the decision earlier than the King County Superior Courtroom within the U.S. state of Washington in favour of 13 plaintiffs who blame their sicknesses on publicity to polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, on the Sky Valley Faculty in Monroe County.

“We respectfully disagree with the divided jury verdict reached on this 13-plaintiff case and plan to pursue post-trial motions and appeals primarily based on a number of errors and the dearth of proof at trial,” Germany’s Bayer mentioned in an announcement.

“The undisputed proof on this case doesn’t help the conclusions that plaintiffs have been uncovered to unsafe ranges of PCBs on the Sky Valley Training Middle or that these exposures are answerable for their alleged well being points” it added.

Bayer shares have been down 0.9% at 0738 GMT whereas Germany’s blue chip index was up 0.7%.

Whereas Monsanto’s weedkiller Roundup has been a far bigger litigation burden for Bayer, the diversified healthcare and agriculture firm has additionally been making an attempt to resolve lawsuits associated to PCBs. The chemical was utilized in industrial merchandise till Monsanto voluntarily ended manufacturing in 1977.

Bayer has since 2020 resolved a majority of circumstances in litigation with municipalities over waste water contaminated with PCB for $650 million however a number of different claims remained pending.

In August, it put aside 694 million euros for an anticipated settlement with the State of Oregon over PCB in waste water.

The group of drugs was as soon as utilized in electrical gear, carbonless copy paper, caulking, ground end and paint. It was outlawed by the U.S. authorities in 1979 after being linked to most cancers.