Judge denies Monsanto’s request for new trial

A federal judge in San Francisco on Friday turned downed Monsanto Co.’s request for a new trial in the case of a Sonoma County man who won a jury award of more than $80 million because Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer allegedly caused his cancer.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria upholds Monsanto’s liability in the case of Edwin Hardeman, 70, of Santa Rosa who was diagnosed in 2015 with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Chhabria said in his ruling that he will issue another decision on Monday as to whether the damage award should be reduced.

In March, the jury in Chhabria’s court awarded Hardeman $3.6 million for past pain and suffering, $2 million for future pain and suffering, $200,000 for past medical expenses and $75 million in punitive damages.

The trial was the first federal trial in the nation against Monsanto over alleged injury caused by Roundup.