← Back to Dashboard
Litigation Stage Tracker
Active FilingEmerging
Formation
Active Litigation
Maturation
<45
45–55
55–70
70+
Monsanto PCB
OpenFILINGMDL 2342Chemical
2,500+
Total Cases
Causation
Monsanto was the sole US manufacturer of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from 1935 until Congress banned them in 1979. PCBs were used in electrical equipment, caulking, fluorescent light ballasts, and building materials. Internal Monsanto documents from the 1960s show the company knew PCBs were toxic and persistent in the environment but concealed these risks. PCBs are classified as probable human carcinogens (IARC Group 1) and cause neurological damage, immune suppression, and endocrine disruption. PCBs persist in school buildings, waterways, and soil decades after production ceased.
Defendants
| Entity | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Monsanto Company (legacy) | Manufacturer | Sole US manufacturer of PCBs from 1935-1979 — produced 99% of US PCBs |
| Bayer AG | Successor Company | Acquired Monsanto in 2018 for USD 63B — inherited PCB liabilities |
| Solutia Inc. | Spin-Off Entity | Monsanto chemical spin-off (1997) — assumed certain PCB liabilities; now Eastman Chemical |
| Pharmacia LLC | Corporate Predecessor | Former Monsanto parent — named in legacy environmental claims |
Litigation Timeline
1935-1979
Monsanto manufactures 99% of all US PCBs — 1.5 billion pounds produced
1979
Congress bans PCB production under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
2018
Bayer acquires Monsanto — inherits PCB environmental liabilities
2020-2023
School district and municipal claims accelerate nationwide
2024-2026
2,500+ claims pending; bellwether trials and settlement discussions ongoing
Intelligence Signals
No signals yet. Signals populate automatically when scrapers run.
Key Facts
- Status
- active
Geographic Exposure
·S.D.W.Va. (MDL 2342, Judge Goodwin/Chambers)
·Washington state (major school district litigation)
·California (municipal water contamination claims)
·Oregon, Ohio, New York (parallel state court actions)
·Nationwide environmental contamination sites
Eligibility Criteria
- ✓School district with PCB-contaminated buildings (caulking, light ballasts)
- ✓Municipality with PCB-contaminated waterways or infrastructure
- ✓Individual exposed to PCBs in school or workplace environment
- ✓Diagnosed with cancer, neurological damage, or immune disorder linked to PCB exposure