Missouri Court of Appeals affirms Durnell's $1.25 million verdict against Monsanto

The Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed John Durnell's $1.25 million jury verdict against Monsanto in February 2025, rejecting Monsanto's FIFRA preemption defense. The court held that Monsanto had not shown Missouri's labeling requirements conflicted with FIFRA's federal standards — distinguishing the express preemption clause from a blanket shield against state tort liability. The ruling set up the direct circuit split with the Third Circuit's Schaffner v. Monsanto decision that motivated Monsanto's certiorari petition.