Since 2020, the company has been able to settle the majority of the legal disputes with US municipalities in connection with PCB-contaminated wastewater for $650 million.
(Photo: dpa)
Frankfurt The Bayer group wants to challenge another multi-million dollar damages judgment in the United States. “We intend to appeal against the decision, which is based on numerous errors and lack of evidence,” said the group on Friday. The Bloomberg news agency and other media reported on Thursday about the judgment of the King County Superior Court in Washington state.
The court then awarded 13 plaintiffs damages totaling $275 million for damage to their health caused by the chemical PCB at a Monroe County school. The US subsidiary Monsanto, which had been taken over by Bayer, produced these until 1977.
“We cannot understand the verdict in this case with 13 plaintiffs, and the jury itself was also divided on the verdict,” explained Bayer. The evidence in this case is undisputed: “The plaintiffs were not exposed to harmful amounts of PCBs in the school and they can therefore not be responsible for the alleged health damage.”
Among other things, the air samples showed only very little or no exposure to PCBs in the school. In addition, no reliable evidence such as the results of blood tests was presented in these proceedings, which would show a PCB load. “Without evidence of exposure to and damage to health from PCBs, the judgment has no basis. It should therefore be overturned by the next higher court.”
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With a drop of half a percent, Bayer shares were among the few losers in the Dax on Friday. For years, the Bayer group has been hit with lawsuits worth billions over the weed killer glyphosate manufactured by Monsanto. In the case of the PCB lawsuits, the amount in dispute is lower overall. Monsanto voluntarily stopped manufacturing PCBs in 1977.
Since 2020, the company has been able to settle the majority of the legal disputes with US municipalities in connection with PCB-contaminated wastewater for $650 million. However, some product liability proceedings are still ongoing.
In August, the company set aside $694 million to settle a dispute with the state of Oregon over PCB-contaminated wastewater. PCB had been used in many ways, such as in floor cleaners or paint. The US government banned the substance in 1979 after it was classified as a suspected carcinogen.
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