Goodwin v. Bacon

We accepted certification of this case from the Court of Appeals to review a trial court ruling that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. § 136v, does not preempt state negligence claims for failure to warn and inadequate label. We hold FIFRA does preempt state inadequate labeling and failure to warn claims to the extent they rely on a showing of inadequate labeling. We thus reverse the verdict of the trial court.

At issue are the FIFRA provisions permitting state regulation of sale and use of registered pesticides, but restricting state authority over…