This country will never get a handle on the cost of anything if courts keep handing out these ridiculous settlements. Granted they deserve something but $2B?? Seriously? What is the next person who dumps their own coffee in their lap going to get, a Trillion? That or someone found a way to get rid of Round Up.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politi...cer-lawsuit-n1005191

A California jury has found that a popular weedkiller made by Monsanto likely caused cancer in a husband and wife and ordered the chemical giant to pay more than $2 billion in damages, twice what the plaintiffs' attorney had requested.

It's the largest payout and the third loss in a row for Monsanto in lawsuits alleging that Roundup, which includes the herbicide glyphosate, has caused or contributed to cancer — and there are approximately 11,000 suits pending across the country.

Guess I better add to my stock of glyphosate from rural king before they ban the stuff.

Anything that kills plants is going to be harmful to people. But you'd have to be bathing in, drinking or huffing the stuff to get poisoning, let alone cancer. It is dispersed as an atomized liquid - heavier than air - outdoors where there is obviously plenty of ventilation, so breathing it in shouldn't be a problem. An occasional spill of the liquid on oneself is easily cleaned up.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
Anything that kills plants is going to be harmful to people.

Not true, nor does your comment on potency versus harmful physiology hold up.

quote:

This country will never get a handle on the cost of anything if courts keep handing out these ridiculous settlements

It's always easier to spend someone else's money.

Any large judgement like this should be for something that is proven beyond any reasonable doubt.
The use of this product is so widespread that it's hard to believe that millions aren't dying from this cancer if Roundup is the cause.

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Not true, nor does your comment on potency versus harmful physiology hold up.

I suspect he's speaking from a common sense standpoint instead of anything overly scientific.

I don't know about you, but I make it a point to prevent from exposing myself to chemicals of any type, and know that if I do, bad unexpected things may happen.

I'm sorry the folks got cancer but seriously, name any two ordinary people in recorded history whose lives, let alone their allegedly suffering a disease, are worth $2B.

I'd be for a 100% tax on judgments like this, and on settlement proceeds. Remove the profit incentive for nonsense suits, and remove victimhood from the ranks of profitable occupations.

Reimbursement for medical expenses, proven losses, reasonable attorneys fees and court costs - OK reimburse the plaintiff for those. Lawsuits should make victims whole, not line their pockets.

Punitive damages, when issued, IMO, should go straight to the National Debt.

RE: Roundup itself. I've used it and treated it like any other spray. It is not objectionable to work around, and maybe that lends people to treat it causally, which they shouldn't.

My admittedly-not-comprehensive reading of the court procedures in the Roundup suits leads me to believe that the ability of the company to defend itself with actual data was limited, so I don't believe the question of Roundup's being the culprit has been conclusively resolved yet.

And, I'll still be using it. Carefully, as always.

I think the most harmful result of an award of this magnitude is its effect on the legal community.

Ridiculous. Leave it to California.

Let’s just get silly. Why not 768 Quintillion?

Two thousand million dollars.

That judge needs a straight jacket.

I have little sympathy for Monsanto. Most likely they knew that their product will kill some people, but hid that knowledge. If it was you, your child or wife, you would not think 2 billion was excessive.

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Originally posted by DoctorSolo:
Two thousand million dollars.

That judge needs a straight jacket.

But look at how compassionate and understanding he is, and look how they hate the evil corporations. So freakin' woke. Woke and a half.

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Most likely they knew that their product will kill some people, but hid that knowledge.

I'm pretty sure the milk company knows that if not used carefully their milk could kill the person buying it. Yet I haven't seen any death warnings on a milk jug.

Does one really need anything other than common sense to know that the use of chemicals may be hazardous to one's health?

Lawyers need to be named as a Terrorist Group.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

Most likely they knew that their product will kill some people, but hid that knowledge.

I'm pretty sure the milk company knows that if not used carefully their milk could kill the person buying it. Yet I haven't seen any death warnings on a milk jug.

Does one really need anything other than common sense to know that the use of chemicals may be hazardous to one's health?

"Warning, do not swing jug - may cause injury to self or others"

"Warning, do not attempt to breath this milk - may likely cause death"

"Warning , do not rely on as fuel source - will leave you cold and your cereal dry in the morning"

All settlements should be limited to a multiple of expected lifetime earnings plus medical expenses.


Cancer = $500,000 medical

35 year old "victim" with an annual income of $75,000 x 30 years to age 65 x 5 for pain and suffering.

Your max settlement is $11,750,000.00

I'd love to know how they proved that Roundup gave them cancer, especially given that there is no conclusive findings that say Glyphosate causes cancer. I'd also like to know how they did their valuation for what was taken from them to equate $2B in damages.

ETA Looks like TXJIM agrees with me, they were awarded more than their lives were worth. I know it sounds cold, but that's the way it is. Medical, plus lost income, plus punitive/pain an suffering payment caps of $1,000,000.

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve: If it was you, your child or wife, you would not think 2 billion was excessive.

Yes, I would.