In May of 2019, the jury in the case of Pilliod et al. v, Monsanto Company ordered the agrochemical giant to pay $2.055 billion in damages to the plaintiffs, Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a Bay Area couple in their 70s. R. Brent Wisner served as co-lead trial attorney for the Pilliods, delivering the opening and closing statements and cross-examining several of Monsanto’s experts. Wisner Baum managing shareholder, Michael Baum and attorney Pedram Esfandiary also served on the trial team in the Pilliod case.
The judge later reduced their award to $87M. Monsanto appealed the Pilliod’s verdict which the California Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District denied on August 9, 2021. Monsanto then requested the California Supreme Court review the appeal’s court decision, which the court denied on Nov. 17, 2021. Monsanto (Bayer) then submitted a petition for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court which SCOTUS denied on June 27, 2022, allowing the final judgment of $87M to remain intact.
When companies put profits over safety, everyday people pay the price. Across the country, individuals are being harmed by products they were told they could trust, medications, devices, and everyday goods that should have been safe, but weren’t. At Wisner Baum, a nationally recognized trial law firm based in California, we represent people who have been wronged by corporate misconduct. Our focus is on exposing dangerous products, uncovering systemic failures, and holding the companies behind them accountable.
We believe that no one should suffer because a corporation failed to do the right thing. That’s why our product liability attorneys dedicate themselves to uncovering the truth, building strong cases, and pursuing justice on behalf of those impacted. Every case we take on is an opportunity not only to seek accountability but to push for meaningful change in the way companies operate and the standards they follow.
When you partner with Wisner Baum, you gain more than a legal team; you gain experienced advocates who know how to challenge powerful defendants and win. We work with patients, parents, workers, and everyday people who believed they were safe, until they weren’t. By pursuing justice through legal action, they help expose misconduct and prevent future harm. This is more than compensation; it’s a movement for accountability and a safer, more transparent future.
You have the right to demand safer products and ethical corporate behavior. By choosing to take legal action, you empower yourself, and you help protect others from future harm. Our work is driven by this shared commitment: to hold corporations accountable and to help create a world where the products we rely on are made with care, integrity, and safety at the forefront.
In May of 2019, the jury in the case of Pilliod et al. v, Monsanto Company ordered the agrochemical giant to pay $2.055 billion in damages to the plaintiffs, Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a Bay Area couple in their 70s. R. Brent Wisner served as co-lead trial attorney for the Pilliods, delivering the opening and closing statements and cross-examining several of Monsanto’s experts. Wisner Baum managing shareholder, Michael Baum and attorney Pedram Esfandiary also served on the trial team in the Pilliod case.
The judge later reduced their award to $87M. Monsanto appealed the Pilliod’s verdict which the California Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District denied on August 9, 2021. Monsanto then requested the California Supreme Court review the appeal’s court decision, which the court denied on Nov. 17, 2021. Monsanto (Bayer) then submitted a petition for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court which SCOTUS denied on June 27, 2022, allowing the final judgment of $87M to remain intact.
$289.2 million jury verdict in Monsanto Roundup trial
Wisner Baum co-represented Dewayne “Lee” Johnson in the first Roundup cancer lawsuit to proceed to trial. On Aug. 10, 2018, a San Francisco jury ordered Monsanto to pay $39.25 million in compensatory damages and $250 million in punitive damages to Mr. Johnson, a former groundskeeper who alleged exposure to Monsanto’s herbicides caused him to develop terminal non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Months after the jury verdict, the judge overseeing the trial reduced the punitive damages to $39.25 million. Mr. Johnson decided to accept the remittitur, bringing the adjusted amount awarded to Mr. Johnson $78.5 million.
Monsanto (Bayer) appealed the verdict and Johnson cross appealed. On July 20, 2020, the First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the verdict against Monsanto but reduced Mr. Johnson’s award to $20.5 million. The company chose not to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, ending the litigation.
In 2016, Wisner Baum attorney Timothy A. Loranger and six other attorneys in the Plaintiffs’ Management Committee were able to secure a $265 million settlement for victims of the 2015 Amtrak 188 derailment in Philadelphia, one of the largest in the U.S. for 2016.
Corporate negligence doesn’t just harm everyday people; it harms families, mothers, children, and any unsuspecting buyer. It erodes public trust and endangers entire communities. At Wisner Baum, we pursue litigation that uncovers the truth behind dangerous products, forces meaningful changes in corporate behavior, and helps restore a sense of safety and accountability. This is more than legal action; it’s a catalyst for reform.
When companies cut corners, ignore safety warnings, or withhold critical information, it often takes a strong legal response to bring those actions to light. That’s where we come in. Our attorneys lead high-stakes litigation with a clear purpose: to hold corporations accountable for the harm they cause and push for changes that protect others from suffering the same fate.
These cases aren’t just about compensation, they’re about:
Wisner Baum is widely recognized for its success in taking on some of the nation’s most powerful corporations in high-stakes product liability cases. With decades of experience, our attorneys have consistently delivered results for individuals and families harmed by dangerous and defective products. We are known for our ability to go toe-to-toe with large manufacturers, backed by the skill, resources, and resolve needed to win complex litigation.
If a dangerous or defective product has harmed you or someone you love, your voice matters, and taking action can spark real change. By holding corporations accountable, you not only pursue justice for yourself but also help protect others from suffering the same harm. Contact Wisner Baum today to speak with a nationally recognized legal team dedicated to creating a safer, more responsible world. Together, we can stand up to corporate negligence and work toward a future where safety, transparency, and integrity come first.