Roundup is a very popular herbicide in the agricultural industry and for household use. It is one of Monsanto's best-selling products and one of America's most used weed killers.
Since Roundup practically kills everything it touches, Monsanto developed genetically modified seeds that are resistant to It, which boosted sales of this product for household use.
However, this product has been linked to the development of cancer, particularly a type known as non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The active ingredient in this product, a molecule called glyphosate, is a carcinogenic substance, according to the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Many studies question the safety of glyphosate. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans and classified it in group A2 according to the International Cancer Research Center (IARC) 's classification.
However, Bayer, the company that owns Monsanto, does not recognize the harm the product can cause and is fiercely fighting Roundup's lawsuits cancer related. The company supports this claim based on the European Union's regulatory evaluation.
What can you expect from this type of lawsuit? Do you have a chance to win? What is the current status of the roundup lawsuit and cancer? If you are considering filing such a lawsuit, this blog will inform you about the latest developments in the case and give you some options to consider.
Bayer Got A Big Win In March.
In early March, Bayer won a lawsuit against Carl Kline, a retired Pennsylvania Postal Service worker who claimed that he had contracted non-Hodgkins lymphoma from using the Roundup herbicide that the company produces.
Cline's lawyer said the jury was not allowed to hear key evidence, including findings made by the World Health Organization that the product is potentially carcinogenic.
Meanwhile, Bayer's lawyer gave a statement saying, "We continue to stand behind the safety of Roundup and will confidently defend the safety of our products and our good faith actions in any future litigation,"
Additionally, on the same day, Michael Meyer, a farmer who claimed that he and his wife, Bobbie, had contracted this same type of disease from the use of Roundup, voluntarily withdrew a lawsuit of this type. This trial was held in the state court of Sonoma County, California.
The plaintiffs' attorney has not made any statements regarding the case. The reasons why this lawsuit was withdrawn are unknown.
These victories follow another one achieved in the state of Arkansas, placing Bayer as the winner of 13 in the last 20 roundup lawsuits related to cancer. It should be noted that the company is also appealing its legal losses, which include large compensation for punitive damages, with a high probability that they will be reduced because they exceed the guidelines of the United States Supreme Court.
Is Bayer Winning?
Not necessarily.
Last January of this year, a roundup and cancer lawsuit settlement of $2.25 billion was made to John McKivison (49) in Philadelphia, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. On his claim, McKivison told the jury that he used Roundup on his property for over 20 years.
In November of last year, a Missouri jury ordered Bayer to pay $1.56 billion to four plaintiffs who claimed that using Roundup caused them non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The jury found Bayer liable for negligence, design defects, and failure to warn plaintiffs of the potential dangers of using Roundup.
Several studies claim that glyphosate has a direct relationship with cancer, including one by researchers at the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington (DEOHS) and the University of California, Berkeley, where exposure to glyphosate increases the risk of contracting non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by 41%.
This evidence has Monsanto and Bayer, which produces Roundup, nervous, so they are seeking to dismiss this by different means. According to a Reuters article, last February, a three-judge panel of the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Bayer's argument that federal regulators' approval of Roundup protected the company from being sued under state law for failing to warn consumers about the product's risks.
Roundup lawsuits Related to Cancer have dogged Bayer since it acquired Monsanto for $63 billion in 2018. To address the many demands of this type, Bayer settled for $10.9 billion in 2020. There are more than 50,000 claims for these products and more than 30,000 pending lawsuits, including more than 4,000 multidistrict lawsuits (MDL).
This is an uphill battle. If you plan to establish it, you will need a good attorney to support you.
What Can You Do About It?
You will need a good lawyer to face a lawsuit of this type, where you are facing giants. Fortunately, you have us.
Our legal team, mass tort experts, will help you pursue fair compensation for your tort. You are supported by Florida's top defective product attorneys, who stay updated with the latest roundup lawsuit and cancer updates.
Don't let yourself be crushed by large corporations. Stand up to them and defend your rights. With our help, these companies will take responsibility for their actions. Contact us, and we will offer you a free consultation to study your case. At People for Law, we are here to support you.