Supreme Court issues decision in critical pesticide case

In the first opinion issued today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, a case concerning whether federal pesticide-labeling law preempts certain state-law claims.

In a 7-2 decision authored by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Court held that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) expressly preempts a state-law failure-to-warn tort claim against Monsanto.

The decision is expected to have significant implications for product-liability litigation involving pesticides and other federally regulated products, as well as for the scope of federal preemption of state tort claims.

The case drew considerable attention from advocates on both sides of the debate over pesticide regulation and the availability of state-law remedies.

Justice Thomas filed a concurring opinion. Justice Jackson filed a dissenting opinion, joined by Justice Gorsuch.