No. 24-1068

Monsanto Company v. John L. Durnell

Lower Court: Missouri
Docketed: 2025-04-09
Status: Granted
Type: Paid
CVSGAmici (6)Relisted (3) Experienced Counsel
Tags: epa-approval failure-to-warn fifra-preemption pesticide-regulation product-labeling state-law-claim
Key Terms:
Environmental AdministrativeLaw JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2026-01-16 (distributed 3 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether FIFRA preempts a state-law failure-to-warn claim where EPA has repeatedly concluded that the warning is not required and the warning cannot be added to a product without EPA approval

Question Presented (from Petition)

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA” ) create s a comprehensive regulatory scheme governing the use, sale, and labeling of pesticides. The Act preempts any state “requirement [] for labeling or packaging in addition to or different from those required under” FIFRA. 7 U.S.C. §136v(b). For decades, EPA has exercised its authority under FIFRA to find that Monsanto’s Roundup product line and its active ingredient, glyphosate, do not cause cancer in humans. Consistent with that understanding, EPA has repeatedly approved Roundup’s label without a cancer warning. FIFRA prohibits Monsanto from making any substantive change to an EPAapproved label unless it first obtains EPA’s permiss ion. Respondent is one of more than 100,000 plaintiffs across the country that nonetheless seek to hold Monsanto liable for not warning users that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, causes cancer. The federal court s of appeals and state appellate courts are divided over whether FIFRA preempts such claims. The Third Circuit has held that it does. In the decision below, the Missouri Court of Appeals joined the Ninth and Eleventh Circuits and state appellate courts in California and Oregon in holding that it does not. The question presented is: Whether FIFRA preempts a state -law failure -towarn claim where EPA has repeatedly concluded that the warning is not required and the warning cannot be added to a product without EPA approval .

Docket Entries

2026-02-11
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, April 27, 2026.
2026-01-16
Petition GRANTED limited to the following Question: Whether the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act preempts a label-based failure-to-warn claim where EPA has not required the warning.
2026-01-12
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/16/2026.
2025-12-16
Supplemental brief of respondent John L. Durnell filed. (Distributed)
2025-12-16
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/9/2026.
2025-12-16
Supplemental Brief of John L. Durnell submitted.
2025-12-01
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
2025-12-01
Brief amicus curiae of United States of America filed.
2025-12-01
Amicus brief of United States of America submitted.
2025-06-30
The Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States.
2025-06-16
2025-06-16
Reply of Monsanto Company submitted.
2025-06-10
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/26/2025.
2025-06-09
Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed by petitioner.
2025-06-09
Brief of respondent John L. Durnell in opposition filed. (Distributed)
2025-06-09
Waiver of the 14-day waiting period of Monsanto Company submitted.
2025-06-09
Brief of John L. Durnell in opposition submitted.
2025-05-09
Brief amici curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, et al. filed.
2025-05-09
2025-05-09
Amicus brief of American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, American Sugarbeet Growers Association, Cherry Marketing Institute, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, International Fresh Produce Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council of America, National Sorghum Producers, North American Blueberry Council, and Western Growers submitted.
2025-05-09
Amicus brief of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, American Tort Reform Association, Product Liability Advisory Council, and Washington Legal Foundation submitted.
2025-05-07
2025-05-07
Amicus brief of Croplife America submitted.
2025-05-01
2025-05-01
Amicus brief of Atlantic Legal Foundation submitted.
2025-04-30
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including June 9, 2025.
2025-04-29
Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 9, 2025 to June 9, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-04-29
Motion of John L. Durnell for an extension of time submitted.
2025-04-04
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 9, 2025)

Attorneys

American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, American Sugarbeet Growers Association, Cherry Marketing Institute, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, International Fresh Produce Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, Nat
Scott Burnett SmithBradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP, Amicus
Scott Burnett SmithBradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP, Amicus
Scott Burnett SmithBradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP, Amicus
Atlantic Legal Foundation
Lawrence S. EbnerAtlantic Legal Foundation, Amicus
Lawrence S. EbnerAtlantic Legal Foundation, Amicus
Lawrence S. EbnerAtlantic Legal Foundation, Amicus
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, American Tort Reform Association, Product Liability Advisory Council, and Washington Legal Foundation
William McGinley JayGoodwin Procter LLP, Amicus
William McGinley JayGoodwin Procter LLP, Amicus
William McGinley JayGoodwin Procter LLP, Amicus
Croplife America
Shannen Wayne CoffinSteptoe LLP, Amicus
Shannen Wayne CoffinSteptoe LLP, Amicus
Shannen Wayne CoffinSteptoe LLP, Amicus
John L. Durnell
Ashley Conrad KellerKeller Postman LLC, Respondent
Ashley Conrad KellerKeller Postman LLC, Respondent
Ashley Conrad KellerKeller Postman LLC, Respondent
David C. FrederickKellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C., Respondent
Monsanto Company
Paul D. ClementClement & Murphy, PLLC, Petitioner
Paul D. ClementClement & Murphy, PLLC, Petitioner
Paul D. ClementClement & Murphy, PLLC, Petitioner
United States of America
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Amicus
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Amicus
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Amicus