Steele, et al. v. Monsanto Co., et al.

Summary

A California state court jury on Thursday rejected claims from two men who said they developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma from exposure to long-lasting carcinogenic chemicals manufactured by Monsanto Co. called polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, which they alleged the company sold for decades despite knowing their potential health risks.

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Outcome

Verdict for defense.

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Brownlee, Paul
Defense: Monsanto Co.

Judge: Stephen Czuleger
Jurisdiction: Superior Court of California, Los Angeles
Court: Stanley Mosk Courthouse

Case Number: BC497582
Industry: Chemical
Practice Area: Toxic Torts, Environmental Law, Products Liability

Plaintiff

Brownlee, Paul

Defense

Monsanto Co.

Represented By:
Upshaw , Anthony (McDermott Will & Emery)
Dye, Richard (Butler Snow LLP)

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:06:46	Opening Statement	Frieling, Scott
01:39:04	Break
01:58:18	Opening Statement	Upshaw , Anthony
02:41:06	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Frieling, Scott	Aronson, Dr. Kristan Ph.D.	In Person
01:26:45	Break
01:43:30	Witness Direct Examination	Frieling, Scott	Aronson, Dr. Kristan Ph.D.	In Person
03:14:54	Witness Cross Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Aronson, Dr. Kristan Ph.D.	In Person
03:22:04	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Aronson, Dr. Kristan Ph.D.	In Person
01:22:52	Break
01:38:56	Witness Cross Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Aronson, Dr. Kristan Ph.D.	In Person
01:59:42	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Frieling, Scott	Aronson, Dr. Kristan Ph.D.	In Person
02:24:28	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Carpenter, Dr. David M.D.	In Person
01:24:36	Break
01:40:29	Witness Cross Examination	Dye, Richard	Carpenter, Dr. David M.D.	In Person
02:23:32	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Carpenter, Dr. David M.D.	In Person
02:39:46	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Dye, Richard	Carpenter, Dr. David M.D.	In Person
02:46:51	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Frieling, Scott	Aronson, Dr. Kristan Ph.D.	In Person
00:19:50	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Aronson, Dr. Kristan Ph.D.	In Person
00:31:05	Witness Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Carpenter, Dr. David M.D.	In Person
00:46:00	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Karabadzhakyan , Arutyun	In Person
00:33:09	Witness Cross Examination	Miller, Christine	Karabadzhakyan , Arutyun	In Person
00:44:02	Witness Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Steele, Fred	In Person
01:17:20	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Miller, Christine	Steele, Fred	In Person
00:04:26	Witness Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Fractor, David	In Person
00:57:41	Witness Cross Examination	Miller, Christine	Fractor, David	In Person
01:11:38	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Fractor, David	In Person
01:13:47	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Miller, Christine	Fractor, David	In Person
01:15:01	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Rosner, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
00:35:12	Break
00:42:48	Witness Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Rosner, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
01:40:14	Break
01:55:51	Witness Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Rosner, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
03:20:17	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Rosner, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
01:36:39	Break
01:55:28	Witness Cross Examination	Miller, Christine	Rosner, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
02:54:53	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Miller, Christine	Rosner, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
01:23:14	Break
01:47:36	Witness Cross Examination	Miller, Christine	Rosner, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
02:02:09	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Rosner, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
02:25:20	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Rosner, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
00:09:13	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Miller, Christine	Rosner, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
00:11:24	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Rosner, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
00:12:26	Witness Direct Examination	Frieling, Scott	DeGrandchamp, Dr. Richard Ph.D.	In Person
01:48:14	Break
02:06:48	Witness Direct Examination	Frieling, Scott	DeGrandchamp, Dr. Richard Ph.D.	In Person
03:30:45	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Dye, Richard	DeGrandchamp, Dr. Richard Ph.D.	In Person
01:28:34	Break
01:42:36	Witness Cross Examination	Dye, Richard	DeGrandchamp, Dr. Richard Ph.D.	In Person
01:56:19	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Frieling, Scott	DeGrandchamp, Dr. Richard Ph.D.	In Person
02:43:19	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Dye, Richard	DeGrandchamp, Dr. Richard Ph.D.	In Person
02:50:13	Witness Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Schiff, Dr. Ron M.D.	In Person
03:27:24	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Schiff, Dr. Ron M.D.	In Person
01:19:47	Break
01:34:06	General Case Activities
01:36:06	Witness Cross Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Schiff, Dr. Ron M.D.	In Person
02:53:42	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Schiff, Dr. Ron M.D.	In Person
03:01:52	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Schiff, Dr. Ron M.D.	In Person
03:04:02	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paul, Gary	Schiff, Dr. Ron M.D.	In Person
03:04:57	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Frieling, Scott	Levy, Dr. Barry M.D, M.P.H.	In Person
01:22:23	Break
01:40:12	Witness Direct Examination	Frieling, Scott	Levy, Dr. Barry M.D, M.P.H.	In Person
01:56:43	Witness Cross Examination	Dye, Richard	Levy, Dr. Barry M.D, M.P.H.	In Person
02:56:01	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Frieling, Scott	Levy, Dr. Barry M.D, M.P.H.	In Person
03:12:10	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Dye, Richard	Levy, Dr. Barry M.D, M.P.H.	In Person
03:12:39	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Frieling, Scott	Levy, Dr. Barry M.D, M.P.H.	In Person
03:13:15	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities	Paul, Gary
00:01:40	Witness Direct Examination	Miller, Christine	Sarna, Dr. Gregory M.D.	In Person
01:29:32	Break
01:46:34	Witness Cross Examination	Paul, Gary	Sarna, Dr. Gregory M.D.	In Person
02:49:50	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Miller, Christine	Sarna, Dr. Gregory M.D.	In Person
03:00:15	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Paul, Gary	Sarna, Dr. Gregory M.D.	In Person
03:01:24	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Shields, Dr. Peter	In Person
01:38:06	Break
01:56:20	Witness Direct Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Shields, Dr. Peter	In Person
03:01:42	Witness Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Shields, Dr. Peter	In Person
03:23:10	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Shields, Dr. Peter	In Person
01:27:17	Break
01:46:52	Witness Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Shields, Dr. Peter	In Person
02:38:38	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Shields, Dr. Peter	In Person
02:55:45	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Shields, Dr. Peter	In Person
02:57:10	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Dye, Richard	Kytomaa, Dr. Harri Ph.D.	In Person
01:19:24	Break
01:35:31	Witness Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Kytomaa, Dr. Harri Ph.D.	In Person
02:20:41	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Dye, Richard	Kytomaa, Dr. Harri Ph.D.	In Person
02:26:31	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Kytomaa, Dr. Harri Ph.D.	In Person
02:27:17	Witness Direct Examination	Miller, Christine	Kaley, Dr. Robert II, Ph.D.	In Person
03:23:22	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Miller, Christine	Kaley, Dr. Robert II, Ph.D.	In Person
01:28:49	Break
01:48:46	Witness Direct Examination	Miller, Christine	Kaley, Dr. Robert II, Ph.D.	In Person
02:28:12	Witness Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Kaley, Dr. Robert II, Ph.D.	In Person
02:58:35	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Eaton, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
01:30:34	Break
01:46:52	Witness Direct Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Eaton, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
02:46:32	Witness Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Eaton, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
03:10:58	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Eaton, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
01:21:05	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Eaton, Dr. David Ph.D.	In Person
01:34:17	Break
01:49:28	Witness Direct Examination	Upshaw , Anthony	Vorhees, Dr. Donna Ph.D.	Video Recording
03:10:48	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Miller, Christine	Reitman, Dr. Maureen	In Person
01:24:44	Break
01:39:31	Witness Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Reitman, Dr. Maureen	In Person
02:24:21	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Miller, Christine	Reitman, Dr. Maureen	In Person
02:29:50	Witness Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Kaley, Dr. Robert II, Ph.D.	In Person
02:50:04	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Kaley, Dr. Robert II, Ph.D.	In Person
01:31:36	Break
01:48:16	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Miller, Christine	Kaley, Dr. Robert II, Ph.D.	In Person
02:32:21	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Frieling, Scott	Kaley, Dr. Robert II, Ph.D.	In Person
02:36:50	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Miller, Christine	Kaley, Dr. Robert II, Ph.D.	In Person
02:38:09	Witness Direct Examination	Dye, Richard	Saxon, Dr. Andrew M.D.	In Person
02:56:23	End of Session

MAY

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Dye, Richard	Saxon, Dr. Andrew M.D.	In Person
00:52:16	Witness Cross Examination	Paul, Gary	Saxon, Dr. Andrew M.D.	In Person
01:27:42	Break
01:44:49	Witness Cross Examination	Paul, Gary	Saxon, Dr. Andrew M.D.	In Person
02:26:53	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Dye, Richard	Saxon, Dr. Andrew M.D.	In Person
02:36:06	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Paul, Gary	Saxon, Dr. Andrew M.D.	In Person
02:39:01	End of Session

MAY

AM Session

Closings

6 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

MAY

PM Session

Verdict

3 Chapters

MAY

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Steele, et al. v. Monsanto Co., et al.

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

AudioCaseFiles

Essentials

Training Libraries

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:07	Closing Statement	Frieling, Scott
01:34:53	Break
01:52:28	Closing Statement	Upshaw , Anthony
03:35:56	Closing Statement	Frieling, Scott
03:46:33	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Reading of the Verdict
		00:12:59	General Case Activities
		00:15:28	End of Session