Monsanto has once again turned to the U.S. Supreme Court, filing a petition to address a legal argument that could potentially eliminate thousands of lawsuits linked to its Roundup weed killer. The core of Monsanto’s argument is whether federal law, specifically the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), preempts claims that the company failed to warn users about the pesticide’s cancer risks. This marks Monsanto’s third such filing before the Supreme Court. In 2022, the Court denied review of two prior petitions in Roundup-related cases.
The two previous cases, both in California, resulted in significant jury awards. One, in federal court, originally resulted in an $80 million verdict which was later reduced to $25.3 million by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The other, in Alameda County Superior Court, led to a $2 billion jury award. The California Supreme Court opted not to review this case. More details on Monsanto’s latest move can be found in the original article.