The Dallas Business Journal reports on a ruling denying Toyota’s motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict in a case in which a Texas jury awarded $29 million in compensatory damages and $213 million in punitive damages. 

The Dallas Business Journal reports on a ruling denying Toyota’s motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict in a case in which a Texas jury awarded $29 million in compensatory damages and $213 million in punitive damages.

We previously reported that Judge Suzanne Bolanos, who is presiding over the Roundup trial that led to a $250 million punitive damages award, issued a tentative opinion indicating that she intended to vacate that award and order a new trial.  She decided not to vacate the award after all, but instead to reduce it from $250 million to $39.2 million, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The reduced amount is equal to the jury’s award of compensatory damages. The plaintiff can either accept that reduction or reject it in favor of a new trial.

We previously reported that Judge Suzanne Bolanos, who is presiding over the Roundup trial that led to a $250 million punitive damages award, issued a tentative opinion indicating that she intended to vacate that award and order a new trial.  She decided not to vacate the award after all, but instead to reduce it from $250 million to $39.2 million, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The reduced amount is equal to the jury’s award of compensatory damages. The plaintiff can either accept that reduction or reject it in favor of a new trial.

A few months ago we reported on the huge verdict against Monsanto in San Francisco, and we questioned whether the facts of this case could support an award of punitive damages.  It appears the trial judge has doubts as well.  Reuters reports that Judge Suzanne Bolanos has indicated she is likely to toss the verdict and grant a new trial. 

A few months ago we reported on the huge verdict against Monsanto in San Francisco, and we questioned whether the facts of this case could support an award of punitive damages.  It appears the trial judge has doubts as well.  Reuters reports that Judge Suzanne Bolanos has indicated she is likely to toss the verdict and grant a new trial.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a Missouri trial judge has “affirmed” the $4.69 billion talc verdict against Johnson & Johnson.  It seems like a bit of a non-story.  Johnson & Johnson elected not to file post-trial motions, so the trial judge did not really affirm anything, he just entered judgment based on the jury’s verdict.  J&J says it plans to appeal.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a Missouri trial judge has “affirmed” the $4.69 billion talc verdict against Johnson & Johnson.  It seems like a bit of a non-story.  Johnson & Johnson elected not to file post-trial motions, so the trial judge did not really affirm anything, he just entered judgment based on the jury’s verdict.  J&J says it plans to appeal.

The Wall Street Journal ran an editorial yesterday entitled Round Up the Usual Lawyers, about the huge San Francisco jury verdict against Monsanto.  The editorial discusses the scientific evidence that Roundup does not cause cancer, and notes that the trial judge described the plaintiffs’ punitive damages case as “thin.”  Perhaps that means she will be inclined to grant Monsanto’s post-trial motions and vacate the punitive award.

The Wall Street Journal ran an editorial yesterday entitled Round Up the Usual Lawyers, about the huge San Francisco jury verdict against Monsanto.  The editorial discusses the scientific evidence that Roundup does not cause cancer, and notes that the trial judge described the plaintiffs’ punitive damages case as “thin.”  Perhaps that means she will be inclined to grant Monsanto’s post-trial motions and vacate the punitive award.