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Source: St. Louis Business Journal

Former Monsanto Co. Chairman and CEO Hugh Grant has been ordered to testify in persons at a Roundup trial in St. Louis in January.

Grant, who led St. Louis-based Monsanto from 2003 until the company was sold to Bayer AG of Germany for $63 billion in 2018, was subpoenaed by lawyers for plaintiff Sharlean Gordon, who contends the Roundup weedkiller caused her non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 27 in St. Louis County Circuit Court.

Grant's lawyers have been fighting the subpoena, arguing that he is not a scientist or regulatory expert and he has already provided information in deposition testimony. Grant has also argued that he should not have to testify because he plans to be out of the country starting February 9.

“Although Mr. Grant does not have scientific knowledge that doubtless will be a significant component to this lawsuit, he was CEO of Monsanto for 15 years and took part in presentations, discussions, interviews and other appearances for Monsanto as CEO in which the topics of Roundup and glyphosate were explained, discussed and defended,” Special Master Thomas Prebil said in his decision.

The number of people suing over Roundup total more than 42,700, Bayer disclosed in reporting third-quarter financial results. In the first and only three Roundup cases to go to trial, all in California, juries awarded plaintiffs more than $2 billion for cancer claims, though the awards were significantly reduced by judges. Bayer said it plans further appeals in the cases.

Grant did not have to testify live at those trials because they were in California. But because he lives in St. Louis County, plaintiffs’ attorneys saw an opportunity to get him on the stand in person.

Separately, France said Monday it is banning dozens of weedkillers that contain glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup invented by Monsanto.