An Overview of Roundup Litigation
Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against Monsanto, purchased by Bayer AG in 2018, who is the manufacturer of the popular weedkiller and herbicide Roundup. Scientific evidence demonstrates a link between Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). The first three trials on behalf of individuals who contracted NHL after exposure to Roundup have resulted in three verdicts against Monsanto with jury awards of $289 million, $80 million and more than $2 billion, respectively.
What are the Risks of Glyphosate Exposure?
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, has been used as an herbicide and weedkiller for decades and is the most widely used herbicide in the United States. Roundup is the most popular glyphosate-based herbicide on the market, and approximately 100 million pounds are applied to U.S. farms and lawns every year.
Evidence suggests that glyphosate causes the development of cancer in the human body, with some studies suggesting exposure to glyphosate increases one’s risk of cancer by 41%, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Other studies have shown that the combination of ingredients found in Roundup specifically amplify the negative health impacts of glyphosate, leading to cell mutations and cell death. In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) stated that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
What Were the Results of Past Litigation?
To date, three trials have concluded in California that have resulted in judgments against Monsanto, requiring Monsanto to pay damages to individuals who have developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after prolonged exposure to Roundup. In August 2018, Dewayne Johnson was awarded $289 million (later reduced to $78 million) after a San Francisco jury found that his years of working with Roundup as a groundskeeper led to the development of his terminal cancer.
In March of 2019, a federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California found that Roundup was a “substantial factor” in causing another California man’s cancer. The plaintiff in this case, Edwin Hardeman, was awarded $80 million in damages. He used Roundup for over 25 years to control poison oak and weeds on his property, and he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2015.
What Were the Results of the Most Recent Litigation?
Most recently, in May 2019, another San Francisco jury found that it was likely that Alva and Alberta Pilliod’s cancer was caused by prolonged use of Roundup and ordered Monsanto to pay more than $2 billion in damages. The jury found that Roundup was defective in its formulation and that the manufacturer was aware of the risks of glyphosate exposure but failed to warn the public of this information. Evidence of deceptive practices by Monsanto in the marketing of Roundup was raised in the prior California trials as well.
Are More Lawsuits Being Filed Against Bayer AG Regarding Roundup?
There are currently 13,000 cases pending against Monsanto and Bayer AG that allege glyphosate and other ingredients in Roundup cause cancer. Lawsuits have been filed across the country, including in California, Missouri and New York. Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C. recently filed a lawsuit in Nassau County, New York on behalf of the widow of a former landscaper who regularly used Roundup and passed away after developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The suit alleges that Monsanto disregarded and continues to disregard the safety of the decedent plaintiff and the general public by marketing Roundup as a safe product.
Who Can I Consult if My Health Has Been Impacted by Exposure to Roundup?
When companies use deceptive practices and disregard the public’s safety in the promotion of their products, it is critical that justice is carried out. The product liability attorneys at Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C. have spent years working tirelessly for the rights of victims of defective and dangerous products. If you or a loved one has had prolonged exposure to Roundup and developed a form of cancer, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, you may be entitled to pursue compensation. Schedule a free consultation with one of SPBMC’s dedicated product liability attorneys today.