Monsanto wins unanimous defense verdict in first post‑Durnell Roundup trial
- A Missouri Circuit Court jury returned a unanimous defense verdict for Monsanto in Theresa Aretino et al. v. Monsanto Company.
- The trial was the first to reach verdict after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2026 Durnell ruling on FIFRA preemption.
- Plaintiffs pursued design-defect, fraud and negligence claims after failure-to-warn theories were preempted by Durnell.
- The company cited regulatory assessments, including repeated U.S. EPA determinations, saying glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic.
Verdict
A Missouri Circuit Court jury reached a unanimous defense verdict for Monsanto in Theresa Aretino, et al. v. Monsanto Company, finding for the company on the design-defect, fraud and negligence claims pursued by the three plaintiffs.
Context: first post-Durnell trial
In June 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Durnell that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) expressly preempts state-law failure-to-warn claims when the EPA has made a definitive determination on product safety. With those failure-to-warn claims preempted, the Aretino plaintiffs pursued alternate theories and this case tested whether evidence supporting design-defect and negligence claims would suffice at trial.
Glyphosate safety
The release states glyphosate is among the most studied agricultural tools and that the weight of scientific evidence and regulatory assessments worldwide support the safety of glyphosate-based herbicides when used as directed; it notes the U.S. EPA has repeatedly determined glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic.
Company response
Monsanto said it was pleased with the verdict, called the outcome validation that design-defect, fraud and negligence claims lacked evidence, and stated it will continue to defend its glyphosate-based products in remaining litigation.
Source: Bayer