In a landmark Georgia state court decision, jurors awarded $2.065 billion to John Barnes, who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after decades of using Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer. The award includes $65 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages—the first such verdict in the state.

Barnes alleged that glyphosate, Roundup’s active ingredient, caused his cancer and that Monsanto knowingly failed to warn consumers of the risks. At trial, evidence showed the company was aware of potential links between glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma but actively worked to suppress that information and avoid regulatory warnings.

Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, argued there’s no credible evidence linking glyphosate to the disease, pointing to studies and EPA assessments. The company plans to appeal the verdict, continuing to stand by the product’s safety.

This case is one of thousands filed across the U.S. claiming Roundup exposure led to cancer. The trial focused on both the alleged health risks of glyphosate and Monsanto’s decades-long efforts to influence public perception and scientific discourse.

The case is Barnes v. Monsanto Company, Case No. 21-A-444, in the State Court of Cobb County.