A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court will significantly rein in lawsuits that often target major companies alleging claims based on little to no proven scientific evidence.
The case focused on Roundup weed killer and allegations that it causes cancer. The case continued to move through the court system, despite the Federal Environmental Protection Agency finding that the key ingredient of the product had no direct ties to cancer.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency has repeatedly tested the claim that glyphosate (the herbicide’s key ingredient) causes cancer and found no such effect and so refuses to require a consumer warning. By 7-2, the justices ruled that state courts can’t create their own standards for such warnings when the feds have already acted.
The ripple effects of this ruling could impact thousands of similar suits already in the pipeline as well as any future suits based on similar claims.
You can read more about the case and the subsequent ruling here.