BB&D’s founding member Robert D. Blitz has been appointed by the Circuit Court of St. Louis County to serve as Special Master in the first case to go to trial in St. Louis County relating to claims that Monsanto’s Roundup-brand product causes cancer. The case is currently in week three of a scheduled five-week jury trial. Missouri rules permit a trial court to appoint a special master “only when the issues are complicated” and provides that the “master has and shall exercise the power to regulate all proceedings in every hearing before the master and to do all acts and take all measures necessary for or for the efficient performance of the duties under the order.” Here, Mr. Blitz’s role as Special Master has required him to supervise discovery, hear arguments from the parties on pretrial matters, and consult with the court on issues in the case, including discovery, testimony, summary judgment, and jury instructions. Mr. Blitz has also been appointed to serve as Special Master in six other multi-plaintiff cases against Monsanto related to Roundup.
