In a major legal blow, a Washington state jury has ruled that&nbsp;Monsanto must pay $857 million to seven former students and parent volunteers of the Sky Valley Education Centre in Monroe, Washington. &nbsp;

The plaintiffs claimed that exposure to chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from light fixtures made by Monsanto caused neurological, endocrine system, and other health concerns. &nbsp;

The jury found Monsanto liable for selling unsafe PCBs without adequate warnings, awarding $73 million in compensatory damages and $784 million in punitive damages.&nbsp;

Monsanto, now a part of Bayer, plans to challenge the verdict, calling the award "constitutionally excessive." The company asserts that it will seek to have the decision overturned or the damages reduced. &nbsp;

The U.S. Supreme Court typically recommends capping punitive damages at nine times compensatory damages, citing due process rights.&nbsp;

This verdict is the latest in a series of legal setbacks for Monsanto, which is already facing $870 million in verdicts related to alleged PCB exposure at the Sky Valley centre from other cases. &nbsp;

The company is currently appealing those previous decisions. Monsanto claims that tests conducted on blood, air, and other factors indicate that employees were not exposed to unsafe levels of PCBs at the school.&nbsp;

PCBs were widely used for insulating electrical equipment and in common products until the U.S. government banned them in 1979 due to links to cancer. Monsanto ceased PCB production in 1977.

The lawsuits against the company allege that exposure to PCBs at the Sky Valley centre led to various health problems, including cancer and thyroid conditions. Monsanto contends that the school was repeatedly warned since the 1990s about the need to retrofit its light fixtures, assertions that were allegedly ignored.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

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In a major legal blow, a Washington state jury has ruled that Monsanto must pay $857 million to seven former students and parent volunteers of the Sky Valley Education Centre in Monroe, Washington.

In a major legal blow, a Washington state jury has ruled that Monsanto must pay $857 million to seven former students and parent volunteers of the Sky Valley Education Centre in Monroe, Washington. The plaintiffs claimed that exposure to chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from light fixtures made by Monsanto caused neurological, endocrine system, and other health concerns. The jury found Monsanto liable for selling unsafe PCBs without adequate warnings, awarding $73 million in compensatory damages and $784 million in punitive damages. Monsanto, now a part of Bayer, plans to challenge the verdict, calling the award "constitutionally excessive." The company asserts that it will seek to have the decision overturned or the damages reduced. The U.S. Supreme Court typically recommends capping punitive damages at nine times compensatory damages, citing due process rights. This verdict is the latest in a series of legal setbacks for Monsanto, which is already facing $870 million in verdicts related to alleged PCB exposure at the Sky Valley centre from other cases. The company is currently appealing those previous decisions. Monsanto claims that tests conducted on blood, air, and other factors indicate that employees were not exposed to unsafe levels of PCBs at the school. PCBs were widely used for insulating electrical equipment and in common products until the U.S. government banned them in 1979 due to links to cancer. Monsanto ceased PCB production in 1977. The lawsuits against the company allege that exposure to PCBs at the Sky Valley centre led to various health problems, including cancer and thyroid conditions. Monsanto contends that the school was repeatedly warned since the 1990s about the need to retrofit its light fixtures, assertions that were allegedly ignored. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Monsanto to pay $857 million in damages in PCB contamination case 

Environmental activists staged a protest in Argentina's capital opposing the Agrochemical company Monsanto's genetically modified seeds. They have claimed that these seeds disrupt the ecological system and contribute to climate change

Environmental activists stage protest in Argentina's capital against Agrochemical company Monsanto

German chemical giants <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/bayer-takes-over-monsanto-with-a-128-per-share-offer-sources-6323">Bayer </a>and BASF will appeal against the fine of $265 million imposed upon them by a US&nbsp;court over a weedkiller produced by them.

A US jury had&nbsp;awarded $265 million to a Missouri farmer who blamed dicamba&nbsp;herbicide from chemical giants&nbsp;for destroying his peach orchards.

It was&nbsp;the first ruling in some 140 US cases against dicamba, a herbicide blamed for extensive crop damage.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/monsanto-owners-call-weed-killer-safe-after-jury-orders-big-payout-158587">Monsanto owners call weed killer 'safe' after jury orders big payout</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/bayer-takes-over-monsanto-with-a-128-per-share-offer-sources-6323">Bayer </a>says its herbicides pose no unreasonable risk if used correctly.

BASF said it would "use all available legal resources" to fight Saturday's ruling by a federal district court in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/bayer-takes-over-monsanto-with-a-128-per-share-offer-sources-6323">Bayer </a>insists that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/monsanto-owners-call-weed-killer-safe-after-jury-orders-big-payout-158587">Monsanto </a>herbicides are safe and "valuable tools for growers". The herbicides "do not pose any unreasonable risk of off-target movement when used according to label directions", the firm says.

The company&nbsp;had taken over the US agrochemical giant Monsanto for $63bn in 2018.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/bayer-takes-over-monsanto-with-a-128-per-share-offer-sources-6323">Bayer takes over Monsanto with a $128 per share offer: Sources</a>

After this takeover, it introduced seeds that can resist the weed-killer due to which use of the chemicals increased.

But the product has been blamed for polluting around four percent of US soybean fields in 2017.

A common complaint is that the herbicide spreads to nearby areas.

The company sells dicamba-based herbicide and a similar, much-criticised product, Roundup.

US lawsuits against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/monsanto-owners-call-weed-killer-safe-after-jury-orders-big-payout-158587">Monsanto's </a>weed killers may cost <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/bayer-takes-over-monsanto-with-a-128-per-share-offer-sources-6323">Bayer </a>billions of dollars in damages.

The fight over dicamba comes in the wake of a case in which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/bayer-takes-over-monsanto-with-a-128-per-share-offer-sources-6323">Bayer&nbsp;</a>was ordered by a California jury to pay $290 million for failing to warn a dying groundskeeper that Roundup might cause cancer.

German chemical giants Bayer and BASF will appeal against the fine of $265 million imposed upon them by a US court over a weedkiller produced by them. A US jury had awarded $265 million to a Missouri farmer who blamed dicamba herbicide from chemical giants for destroying his peach orchards.

German chemical giants Bayer and BASF will appeal against the fine of $265 million imposed upon them by a US court over a weedkiller produced by them. A US jury had awarded $265 million to a Missouri farmer who blamed dicamba herbicide from chemical giants for destroying his peach orchards. It was the first ruling in some 140 US cases against dicamba, a herbicide blamed for extensive crop damage. Also read: Monsanto owners call weed killer 'safe' after jury orders big payout Bayer says its herbicides pose no unreasonable risk if used correctly. BASF said it would "use all available legal resources" to fight Saturday's ruling by a federal district court in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Bayer insists that Monsanto herbicides are safe and "valuable tools for growers". The herbicides "do not pose any unreasonable risk of off-target movement when used according to label directions", the firm says. The company had taken over the US agrochemical giant Monsanto for $63bn in 2018. Also read: Bayer takes over Monsanto with a $128 per share offer: Sources After this takeover, it introduced seeds that can resist the weed-killer due to which use of the chemicals increased. But the product has been blamed for polluting around four percent of US soybean fields in 2017. A common complaint is that the herbicide spreads to nearby areas. The company sells dicamba-based herbicide and a similar, much-criticised product, Roundup. US lawsuits against Monsanto's weed killers may cost Bayer billions of dollars in damages. The fight over dicamba comes in the wake of a case in which Bayer was ordered by a California jury to pay $290 million for failing to warn a dying groundskeeper that Roundup might cause cancer.

German chemical firms to appeal against $265mn fine imposed by US court

A US court has awarded $2 billion on Monday to an elderly couple that developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after years of using Monsanto's popular weed killer Roundup, delivering a major blow to the agrochemical giant. This is the largest verdict against the company over Roundup.

US chemical giant Monsanto asked to pay $2bn in largest verdict yet over cancer claims

US agriculture company Monsanto agreed to a takeover from Bayer with a USD 128 per share offer, Reuters reported on Wednesday. 
 
The companies have agreed on a break-up fee of USD 2 billion, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. The deal is expected to be closed by the end of 2017, the source said. 
 
The new offer would value Monsanto at USD 56.5 billion. 
 
Bayer chief executive Werner Baumann first made his bid for Monsanto four months ago. The German pharmaceutical and chemical group had initially offered USD 122 per share in May. Monsanto rejected the offer as &quot;incomplete and financially inadequate&quot;. 
 
The merger of the two would create a new global leader in agrochemical businesses. 
 
As part of its latest proposal, Bayer is also offering to double, to USD 3 billion, the compensation it would have to pay to Monsanto if the deal is stopped by competition regulators, Rheinische Post said. 
 
&ldquo;We see the Bayer-Monsanto deal as close to an end,&rdquo; analysts at Germany&rsquo;s DZ Bank wrote in a note Wednesday morning, The Wall Street Journal reported. &ldquo;We don&#39;t like the transaction because we think that Bayer is overpaying significantly,&rdquo; the analysts said. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Bayer chief executive had made his first bid for Monsanto, which will now be valued at $56.5 billion, four months ago

US agriculture company Monsanto agreed to a takeover from Bayer with a USD 128 per share offer, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The companies have agreed on a break-up fee of USD 2 billion, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. The deal is expected to be closed by the end of 2017, the source said. The new offer would value Monsanto at USD 56.5 billion. Bayer chief executive Werner Baumann first made his bid for Monsanto four months ago. The German pharmaceutical and chemical group had initially offered USD 122 per share in May. Monsanto rejected the offer as "incomplete and financially inadequate". The merger of the two would create a new global leader in agrochemical businesses. As part of its latest proposal, Bayer is also offering to double, to USD 3 billion, the compensation it would have to pay to Monsanto if the deal is stopped by competition regulators, Rheinische Post said. “We see the Bayer-Monsanto deal as close to an end,” analysts at Germany’s DZ Bank wrote in a note Wednesday morning, The Wall Street Journal reported. “We don't like the transaction because we think that Bayer is overpaying significantly,” the analysts said. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Bayer takes over Monsanto with a $128 per share offer: Sources

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