Vermont Judge Allows Burlington School District's PCB Lawsuit to Proceed

Lawsuit against Monsanto and successors over contamination at Burlington High School will move forward to trial.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:01pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a school building in shades of blue, green, and red, with the iconic shape of the building repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the legal battle over PCB contamination in schools.A vibrant pop art interpretation of a school building at the center of a legal battle over toxic PCB contamination.Burlington Today

A federal judge has ruled that the Burlington School District's lawsuit against Monsanto, Solutia, and Pharmacia over PCB contamination at Burlington High School can move forward. The school district sued the companies, claiming they are responsible for the decades-old PCB manufacturing that led to the discovery of the toxic chemicals during renovation planning, forcing the district to tear down the high school campus.

Why it matters

This ruling is a significant development in the ongoing battle between school districts and major corporations over liability for legacy PCB contamination in aging school buildings. The decision keeps the door open for the Burlington School District to potentially seek punitive damages if a jury finds evidence of particularly egregious conduct by the defendants.

The details

In the ruling, U.S. District Judge William Sessions denied the companies' request to dismiss the case before trial. The judge said there are key disputed facts that a jury will need to decide, including what Monsanto knew about PCB health risks, what warnings were given, and whether the contamination and the district's response were reasonable.

  • The PCB contamination was discovered at Burlington High School during renovation planning.
  • The Burlington School District filed the lawsuit against Monsanto, Solutia, and Pharmacia.
  • On April 16, 2026, the federal judge ruled that the lawsuit can move forward to trial.

The players

Burlington School District

The public school district in Burlington, Vermont that is suing Monsanto and other companies over PCB contamination at Burlington High School.

Monsanto

A major agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology company that the Burlington School District claims is responsible for decades-old PCB manufacturing that led to contamination at the high school.

Solutia

A chemical company that was formerly a subsidiary of Monsanto and is also named as a defendant in the Burlington School District's lawsuit.

Pharmacia

A pharmaceutical company that acquired Monsanto and is also named as a defendant in the Burlington School District's lawsuit.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions

The federal judge who ruled that the Burlington School District's lawsuit against Monsanto and other companies can move forward to trial.

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What they’re saying

“There are key facts a jury will need to decide, including what Monsanto knew about PCB health risks, what warnings were given, and whether the contamination and the district's response were reasonable.”

— U.S. District Judge William Sessions, Federal Judge

What’s next

A trial date has not yet been set, but the ruling keeps the case alive and allows the Burlington School District to potentially seek punitive damages if a jury finds evidence of particularly egregious conduct by the defendants.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges school districts face in addressing legacy PCB contamination in aging school buildings, and the legal battles they must wage against major corporations to hold them accountable. The Burlington School District's victory in getting its day in court is a significant step, but the ultimate outcome will depend on what a jury decides regarding the companies' knowledge and actions.