US JUDGE UPHOLDS MONSANTO RULING, REDUCES PAYOUT

ON MONDAY a US judge conditionally upheld a ruling against Monsanto, which found the agro-chemical giant’s weed killer product Roundup was responsible for a 46-year-old gardener’s terminal cancer.

Judge Suzanne Ramos Bolanos rejected Monsanto’s appeal for a new trial, but significantly reduced the payout, originally set at $289million to $78m.

Dewayne Johnson was awarded the payout in August by a jury, potentially setting a precedent for other cases against the company and representing a huge blow to Monsanto, owned by German conglomerate Bayer.

Bolanos ruled that, should Johnson accept the reduced payment, Monsanto’s motion for a new trial would be denied.

Johnson was diagnosed with terminal lymphatic cancer in 2014 and his case was moved up to be heard ahead of others.