tyb
Jury finding upends Bayer's Roundup defense strategy: experts
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bayer AG had hoped a new trial strategy focusing jurors on scientific evidence could stem a burgeoning tide of U.S. lawsuits over its glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup, but a second jury finding on Tuesday that the product caused cancer has narrowed the company's options, some legal experts said.
Bayer shares tumbled more than 12 percent on Wednesday after a unanimous jury in San Francisco federal court found Roundup to be a "substantial factor" in causing California resident Edwin Hardeman's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The jury decision was a blow to Bayer after the judge in the Hardeman case, at the company's request, had split the trial, severely limiting evidence plaintiffs could present in the first phase. Tuesday's defeat on terms considered advantageous to Bayer sets up the second phase to be even tougher and limits the grounds on which the company could appeal any final verdict, the experts said.
"The fact that Bayer lost this trial despite it being set up in the most favorable way for them is a huge setback," said Thomas Rohback, a Connecticut-based defense lawyer.
Bayer in a statement on Tuesday said it stood behind the safety of Roundup and was confident the evidence in the second trial phase would show that Monsanto's conduct was appropriate and the company not liable for Hardeman's cancer.
The company, which bought Monsanto last year, on Wednesday declined to comment beyond that statement.
Tuesday's finding did not address liability, which will be determined following the second trial phase that began on Wednesday.
Bayer denies glyphosate or Roundup cause cancer. The German company faces more than 11,200 lawsuits over the popular weed killer. Last August, following the first Roundup trial, a California state court jury issued a $289 million verdict against the company.
Two weeks after that verdict, which was later reduced to $78 million and is being appealed, Bayer Chief Executive Werner Baumann reassured analysts that the company had a new legal strategy based on focusing jurors on the scientific evidence.
"Bayer and the joint litigation team are working to ensure that, going forward, this overwhelming science will get the full consideration it deserves," Baumann said in an Aug. 23 conference call.
A LOT AT STAKE
There is a lot at stake for Bayer, which acquired Roundup maker Monsanto last year for $63 billion. Though Bayer does not break out sales figures for Roundup, glyphosate is the world's most widely used weed killer, and Roundup is the leading brand.
Bayer's new strategy was focused on keeping out plaintiffs' allegations that the company improperly influenced scientists, regulators and the public about the safety of Roundup. Bayer has denied it acted inappropriately and said in public statements following the August verdict that it thought the jury was inflamed by the claims of corporate misconduct.
Vince Chhabria, the San Francisco federal judge overseeing the Hardeman case, agreed with the company's argument that such evidence was a "distraction" from the scientific question of whether glyphosate causes cancer. He agreed to split the trial in a January order.
Had Bayer had won the first phase, there would have been no second phase looking at company liability. Now that it has lost, almost all of the previously excluded evidence can be presented to the jury.
https://www.marketscreener.com/BAYER-AG-436063/news/Jury-finding-upends-Bayer-s-Roundup-defense-strategy-experts-28202889/?countview=0
since bayer was an early thing here it certainly does
Details fixed for abdication, enthronement ceremonies
7:05 pm, March 20, 2019
The Yomiuri Shimbun
The details of ceremonies related to the Emperor’s abdication and the crown prince’s accession to the throne have been decided at a meeting of the panel overseeing the ceremonies.
For the Oct. 23 banquet to be hosted by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife, the panel decided on Tuesday to appoint kyogen play actor Nomura Mansai as general adviser for cultural events at the party.
At the Taiirei Seiden no Gi abdication ceremony on April 30, the Emperor will speak after Abe delivers the “address of the national representatives.”
After the abdication ceremony, the magatama comma-shaped jewel and a sword that validates the throne will be returned to the place where they are kept at the Imperial Palace. When the Kenji to Shokei no Gi — a ceremony where a new emperor inherits the Imperial Regalia — is held on May 1, the sacred objects are to be brought to the site of the ceremony again.
This is intended to avoid a situation in which the Emperor — who does not have powers related to government — could give the impression that he passed the throne to the crown prince through his own will by directly passing him the regalia.
“The decision is appropriate on the basis of the purport of the Constitution,” Cabinet Legislation Bureau Director General Yusuke Yokobatake said during the panel meeting on Tuesday.
Leaders from foreign countries will be invited to the Sokuirei Seiden no Gi ceremony slated for Oct. 22, during which the new emperor will proclaim his enthronement at home and abroad.
To encourage foreign guests to deepen their understanding of Japanese culture, the government plans to hold kabuki and noh performances.
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0005619085
I just know how to use a translator
'thistle baby. Doing well. Another day in paradise. Little rain but all good.
POTUS day for sure!
welcome newfag
works for me! Any job I can get with them is a good job!
thick as usual. Can't keep up with the stock dumps so took a break and lifted my head up for a bit. Insane! 2 at oracle dropped almost $100m over last 2 days. Getting close with that.
thistle been here a LONG time. Bag on the one's who put it in the name field.
a month ago?.
Too funny. It involve the name field and that. I came in here last may-and lurked from late december '17 and he was already here.
also had the "it's asset seizure" bitch tag something earlier today. I get that but why are they worried about $9m or so when boss dropped the FB one which was $66? Did not see them tag that and that had way moar eye's on it.
Weird but I'm not stopping. Anon dropped a gif of 'can't stop…won't stop' to me at bottom bread so that felt good.
STFU
chek'd quads
not hasty at all. Very calm in fact. Just makes zero sense that's all-tagging me on a na moutnrelated to FB that was six times smaller. You have caused quite the shit-storm "namefag". Now you know what it feels like to have a dedicated shillbag chasing you around ala ktwats with me. !
Funny as hell
o7
do it again!