U.S. judge limits evidence in trial over Roundup cancer claims
Source: Reuters
BUSINESS NEWS JANUARY 3, 2019 / 7:59 PM / UPDATED 43 MINUTES AGO
U.S. judge limits evidence in trial over Roundup cancer claims
Tina Bellon
3 MIN READ
(Reuters) - A federal judge overseeing lawsuits alleging Bayer AGs glyphosate-based weed killer causes cancer has issued a ruling that could severely restrict evidence that the plaintiffs consider crucial to their cases.
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco in an order on Thursday granted Bayer unit Monsantos request to split an upcoming trial into two phases. The order initially bars lawyers for plaintiff Edwin Hardeman from introducing evidence that the company allegedly attempted to influence regulators and manipulate public opinion.
Thursdays order applies to Hardemans case, which is scheduled to go to trial on Feb. 25, and two other so-called bellwether trials which will help determine the range of damages and define settlement options for the rest of the 620 Roundup cases before Chhabria.
But Hardemans lawyers contended that such evidence, including internal Monsanto documents, showed the companys misconduct and were critical to California state court jurys August 2018 decision to award $289 million in a similar case. The verdict sent Bayer shares tumbling though the award was later reduced to $78 million and is under appeal.
Under Chhabrias order, evidence of Monsantos alleged misconduct would be allowed only if glyphosate was found to have caused Hardemans cancer and the trial proceeded to a second phase to determine Bayers liability.
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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bayer-glyphosate-lawsuit/u-s-judge-limits-evidence-in-trial-over-roundup-cancer-claims-idUSKCN1OY03N