Barnes v. Monsanto Co.

Summary

In this product liability litigation, plaintiff seeks to recover damages against defendant Monsanto for the non-Hodgkin lymphoma he developed after years of allegedly using the company's Roundup-brand weed killer.

Plaintiff contends glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide, caused his cancer. He maintains Monsanto knew of links between glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma but worked to undercut scientific evidence connecting the chemical to cancer and failed to warn consumers of the risks the chemical posed.

Defendant Monsanto contends there is no reliable scientific evidence connecting glyphosate to cancer, and that studies have shown no statistically significant increase in cancer risk from using the chemical. Defendant maintains plaintiff's disease was caused by naturally-occurring DNA replication errors.

Outcome

For the plaintiff: $2.065 billion, which includes:

$65 million in compensatory damages and
$2 billion in punitive damages.

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Barnes, John
Defense: Monsanto Co.
Verdict: $2,065,000,000

Judge: Jane Manning
Jurisdiction: State Court of Georgia, Cobb County
Court: Cobb County State Court

Case Number: 21-A-444
Industry: Agriculture
Practice Area: Products Liability

Plaintiff

Barnes, John

Defense

Monsanto Co.

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:09:05	Opening Statement	Findley, Kyle
01:07:25	Break
01:12:30	Opening Statement	Holley, William
02:12:27	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
00:50:07	Break
01:05:42	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
02:06:17	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
01:08:24	Break
01:28:04	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
02:43:57	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
00:20:17	Break
00:42:27	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
01:59:32	Break
02:18:22	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
02:54:17	End of Session

MAR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
01:07:48	Break
01:29:03	Witness Cross Examination	Kalas, John	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
02:16:33	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
02:45:03	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Kalas, John	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
02:54:09	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
01:08:40	Break
01:22:52	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
02:25:45	End of Session

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
01:30:31	Break
01:47:20	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
03:12:10	End of Session

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:19:24	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
01:27:55	Break
01:49:00	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
02:57:05	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:20:30	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
01:25:15	Break
01:41:00	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
04:07:20	End of Session

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:47:00	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
		02:38:13	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:20:20	Witness Direct Examination	Holley, William	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
01:47:26	Break
02:12:10	Witness Direct Examination	Holley, William	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
03:07:45	Break
03:11:00	Witness Direct Examination	Holley, William	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
04:00:14	End of Session

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:37:34	Witness Direct Examination	Holley, William	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
01:34:35	Break
02:26:56	Witness Direct Examination	Holley, William	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
03:14:10	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:23:25	General Case Activities		Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
00:48:57	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
02:00:25	Break
02:25:30	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
02:30:00	Break
02:34:20	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
03:08:16	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Holley, William	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
03:35:42	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
03:40:25	End of Session

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:32:44	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Durrani, Timur	In Person
		03:18:20	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:06:25	Witness Cross Examination	Warburton, R. Thomas	Durrani, Timur	In Person
01:35:50	Break
01:59:30	Witness Cross Examination	Warburton, R. Thomas	Durrani, Timur	In Person
03:58:07	End of Session

MAR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Warburton, R. Thomas	Durrani, Timur	In Person
00:46:41	General Case Activities		Durrani, Timur	In Person
00:55:07	Break
01:22:10	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Durrani, Timur	In Person
02:12:47	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Warburton, R. Thomas	Durrani, Timur	In Person
02:17:22	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Durrani, Timur	In Person
02:19:42	Witness Direct Examination	Findley, Kyle	Barnes, John	In Person
02:43:17	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Holley, William	Barnes, John	In Person
00:57:10	General Case Activities		Barnes, John	In Person
01:03:38	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Findley, Kyle	Barnes, John	In Person
01:08:45	Break
01:20:22	Witness Direct Examination		Naguib, Dr. Hosam M.D.	Video Recording
02:44:56	End of Session

MAR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

8 Chapters

MAR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Kalas, John	Vearrier, Dr. David MD, MPH	In Person
01:11:22	Break
01:29:24	Witness Direct Examination	Kalas, John	Vearrier, Dr. David MD, MPH	In Person
02:52:52	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Kalas, John	Vearrier, Dr. David MD, MPH	In Person
00:32:42	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Vearrier, Dr. David MD, MPH	In Person
01:06:18	Break
01:28:20	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Vearrier, Dr. David MD, MPH	In Person
02:50:55	Break
03:00:45	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Vearrier, Dr. David MD, MPH	In Person
03:07:40	General Case Activities		Vearrier, Dr. David MD, MPH	In Person
03:23:40	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Vearrier, Dr. David MD, MPH	In Person
03:31:28	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Kalas, John	Vearrier, Dr. David MD, MPH	In Person
03:32:31	End of Session

MAR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

MAR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Tomasetti, Dr. Cristian	In Person
01:17:34	Break
01:47:04	General Case Activities
02:35:44	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Holley, William	Tomasetti, Dr. Cristian	In Person
02:42:34	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Tomasetti, Dr. Cristian	In Person
02:48:49	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

12 Chapters

MAR

AM Session

Closings

8 Chapters

PM Session

Closings - Damages

7 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict - Damages

3 Chapters

MAR

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Barnes v. Monsanto Co.

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

AudioCaseFiles

Essentials

Training Libraries

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:04:10	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
01:15:45	Break
01:33:30	Witness Direct Examination	Wexler, Noah	Reeves, William	Transcript Reading
03:37:28	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:04:35	Witness Direct Examination	Findley, Kyle	Barnes, Beverly	In Person
00:23:20	General Case Activities		Barnes, Beverly	In Person
00:27:10	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
01:19:50	Break
01:35:38	General Case Activities
01:38:00	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Farmer, Dr. Donna	In Person
02:40:15	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:18	Witness Direct Examination	Holley, William	Welch-DuJardin , Dr. Connie	In Person
01:30:07	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Welch-DuJardin , Dr. Connie	In Person
02:22:55	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:12	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Welch-DuJardin , Dr. Connie	In Person
00:58:32	General Case Activities		Welch-DuJardin , Dr. Connie	In Person
01:03:47	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Holley, William	Welch-DuJardin , Dr. Connie	In Person
01:16:27	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Welch-DuJardin , Dr. Connie	In Person
01:32:07	Break
02:16:12	General Case Activities
02:18:07	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:42	Witness Direct Examination	Holley, William	Tomasetti, Dr. Cristian	In Person
01:18:07	Break
01:35:52	Witness Direct Examination	Holley, William	Tomasetti, Dr. Cristian	In Person
02:44:28	Witness Cross Examination	Findley, Kyle	Tomasetti, Dr. Cristian	In Person
03:49:17	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:04:14	Witness Direct Examination	Kalas, John	Matasar, Dr. Matthew	In Person
01:44:10	Break
01:46:31	Witness Cross Examination	Sellers, Kala	Matasar, Dr. Matthew	In Person
02:02:37	Break
02:21:13	Witness Cross Examination	Sellers, Kala	Matasar, Dr. Matthew	In Person
03:45:27	General Case Activities		Matasar, Dr. Matthew	In Person
03:53:52	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Kalas, John	Matasar, Dr. Matthew	In Person
04:01:50	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Sellers, Kala	Matasar, Dr. Matthew	In Person
04:08:07	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Kalas, John	Matasar, Dr. Matthew	In Person
04:14:32	General Case Activities
04:16:04	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:15	Closing Statement	Findley, Kyle
01:25:29	Break
01:36:02	Closing Statement	Warburton, R. Thomas
02:48:57	Break
02:52:17	Closing Statement	Findley, Kyle
03:19:52	General Case Activities
03:39:59	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	Reading of the Verdict
00:02:21	General Case Activities
00:04:04	Closing Statement	Findley, Kyle
00:09:21	Closing Statement	Holley, William
00:14:42	Closing Statement	Findley, Kyle
00:17:45	General Case Activities
00:21:12	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Reading of the Verdict
		00:05:00	General Case Activities
		00:06:39	End of Session