A Philadelphia jury has ruled against German pharmaceutical and chemical company Bayer AG in a case involving its controversial weed killer, Roundup. The jury found Bayer liable for the cancer of a retired restaurant owner who claimed his exposure to the herbicide caused his illness. As a result, Bayer has been ordered to pay $175 million in damages, according to the man's lawyers.

The verdict includes $25 million in compensatory damages, intended to address the plaintiff's economic and non-economic losses, and an additional $150 million in punitive damages, designed to punish the defendant for its actions. Bayer, however, expressed its disagreement with the jury's decision and plans to appeal the verdict, stating their confidence in overturning the ruling and reducing the substantial damage award.

The plaintiff, Ernest Caranci, argued that he developed cancer as a result of his exposure to Roundup. The jury's decision comes just a week after Bayer faced a $1.25 million verdict in a separate Roundup trial. Prior to these cases, Bayer had won nine consecutive trials related to similar claims.

The controversy surrounding Roundup has plagued Bayer since its acquisition of agricultural seeds and pesticides maker Monsanto Co in 2018. The company had settled most of the Roundup-related claims against it in 2020 for a massive sum of up to $10.9 billion. Despite this, Bayer still faces a staggering number of approximately 40,000 lawsuits related to Roundup.

The outcome of the Caranci case may set a precedent for future lawsuits against Bayer concerning the alleged cancer-causing effects of Roundup. The company will likely continue to face legal challenges as it grapples with the aftermath of its association with the controversial weed killer.

Bayer, a prominent name in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry, will now have to navigate the legal landscape as it fights to defend its actions and reputation in the face of mounting legal battles.