Wake Up Call: Lawyer’s “Champagne” Comment Could Doom $289M Monsanto Award

• The trial attorney who in August convinced a jury that Monsanto Co.’s Roundup weed killer caused his client’s cancer could now see the $289 million verdict bubble away. Yesterday, Monsanto parent Bayer AG won a tentative ruling slashing the lion’s share of the verdict, and the San Francisco judge is considering a new trial. Turns out she was miffed by closing arguments by Brent Wisner, of Baum, Hedlund, Aristei, Goldman, especially the part when he claimed Monsanto’s lawyers had champagne waiting on ice to celebrate a win. Monsanto’s lawyer is George Lombardi of Winston & Strawn. ( Bloomberg )

• Burford Capital, the ...