In a landmark ruling, agrochemical giant Monsanto has been ordered to pay a staggering $165 million verdict over the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in a Seattle school. The verdict, delivered by a jury in a Seattle court, has brought attention to the issue of environmental contamination and the responsibility of corporations for the health and well-being of communities.
Employees of a school northeast of Seattle claimed chemicals made by the company called polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, leaked from light fixtures and got them sick. PCBs are toxic chemicals that were widely used in electrical equipment, hydraulic fluids, and other industrial applications until they were banned in the late 1970s due to their harmful effects on human health and the environment. The chemicals have been linked to a range of health issues, including cancer and neurological disorders.
The Washington state court jury found Monsanto liable for selling products containing PCBs used in the Sky Valley Education Center in Monroe, Washington. The products were not safe and did not include adequate warnings. The award included nearly $50 million in compensatory damages, and $115 million in punitive damages.
The lawsuit named Monsanto spinoff Pharmacia as the defendant in the case, though Monsanto is expected to be required to cover the damages. The jury found Monsanto liable for negligence, failure to warn, and trespass. The $165 million in damages to the Seattle School District will be used to address the costs associated with remediating the contamination and providing medical monitoring for those affected.
The verdict has been hailed as a significant victory for the environmental justice movement and a wake-up call for corporations responsible for manufacturing hazardous substances. It sends a strong message that companies cannot put profits over the health and safety of communities. Monsanto said in a statement that it will contest Monday’s verdict, and that blood, air and other tests show the school employees were not exposed to unsafe levels of PCBs.