US Supreme Court declines certiorari for Bayer, Monsanto for second time

US Supreme Court declines certiorari for Bayer, Monsanto for second time

In 2022, Bayer and its agrochemical subsidiary Monsanto were denied certiorari for the second time in a row by the US Supreme Court. This is one of many cases related to Roundup, a weed killer manufactured by Monsanto that has been accused of causing cancer. Bayer has sought certiorari in this case.

The case in question, Pilliods v. Monsanto, revolves around a California couple who claims Roundup's key ingredient, glyphosate, is responsible for both of their non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis. It was found by the California Appeals Court that Bayer and Monsanto were liable for $86 million in damages (both punitive and compensatory), in favor of the couple.

Among Bayer's five-point plan for managing the current Roundup legal crisis are hearing before the Supreme Court, developing a comprehensive claims program, managing existing cases, introducing a new Roundup formulation, and developing a safety study website. On June 21st, Bayer had also sought certiorari for Hardeman v. Monsanto, which was denied earlier this year.

In a statement to news outlets, Bayer responded that the company "continues to stand fully behind its Roundup product" and "will only resolve outstanding cases and claims when it is strategically advantageous."

The topic of glyphosate's safety has been mixed, with some studies suggesting that it is safe when used properly and others indicating that it is a carcinogen when used improperly.