What’s Happening with Monsanto Roundup Lawsuit?

What’s Happening with Monsanto Roundup Lawsuit?

Monsanto, owned by the pharmaceutical company Bayer, is responsible for manufacturing Roundup, a widely used weedkiller product. In recent years, Monsanto has been drawn into a controversy and a series of investigations and lawsuits when it was discovered that glyphosate-an active ingredient in Roundup-could cause cancer. Some people throughout the United States who used the product have subsequently been found to be suffering from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Roundup use has been linked to certain forms of cancer, such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Individuals such as laborers and gardeners who have had extensive exposure to the weedkiller are at the highest risk. Monsanto is facing thousands of lawsuits in state and federal courts. But despite several major losses in court, Monsanto continues to deny that glyphosate is a human carcinogen, and about 300 million pounds of the chemical are used on farms worldwide every year, according to Newsweek.

Why Are People Suing Monsanto?

Monsanto began producing Roundup in the early 1970s. Initially, it was intended as a non-selective weedkiller, but because of its glyphosate content, it tended to damage crops. Its popularity increased in 1996 due to Monsanto’s development of glyphosate-resistant seeds. This meant that Roundup could be used more widely both in agriculture and in residential gardens. German chemical company Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018.

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reclassified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” in a 2015 report Thousands of Roundup users have been filing lawsuits against Monsanto for damages since it has been linked to some types of lymphoma, including:

  • B-cell lymphoma
  • T-cell lymphoma
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
  • Hairy cell lymphoma
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Exposure to Roundup can occur in several ways, including:

  • Direct contact with the skin
  • Inhalation
  • Ingestion

Recent studies highlight the increasing difficulty of avoiding exposure to glyphosate. It has already been discovered in 60 percent of our food supply. Because it is also in our air and water, even crops that have not been dusted with Roundup are showing signs of contamination.

You may qualify for compensation if you meet the following circumstances:

  • You have been diagnosed with one of the above-listed forms of cancer
  • You have a history of using Roundup weedkiller in a residential setting
  • You used Roundup in your line of work
  • You used Roundup in an agricultural setting 

What’s Happening with Roundup Lawsuit

In the latest update, from January 3, 2022, there was a total of 3,989 pending lawsuits in the Monsanto mass tort lawsuit in California. There are currently an estimated 30,000 Monsanto lawsuits remaining throughout the U.S. 

Monsanto Ordered to Pay $289 Million in World’s First Roundup Cancer Trial

On August 10, 2018, a California jury found Monsanto liable in a lawsuit filed by Dewayne Johnson, 46, a groundskeeper who claimed that using Roundup had caused his cancer. The court ordered Monsanto to pay $289 million in damages-$39 million in compensatory and $250 million in punitive damages, as Reuters reports.

According to Johnson’s attorney, he developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using the weedkiller as part of his job for a California county school system. After deliberating for three days, the jury found Monsanto guilty of failing to warn Johnson and other users that the use of its herbicide carries a cancer risk. 

Judge Rejected a $2 Billion Plan to Settle Future Claims Alleging Roundup Causing Cancer 

On May 26, 2021, the U.S. court turned down Bayer’s $2 billion settlement offer, which was intended to settle future lawsuits that claim Roundup weedkiller causes cancer. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California based his ruling on the fact that the settlement was unreasonable and would not benefit Roundup users who may be diagnosed with cancer in the future. 

Bayer continues to claim that several years of studies show that glyphosate is safe for human use. However, the company has said it is committed to developing a plan to address future lawsuits. Part of this plan is a reevaluation of glyphosate-based Roundup for residential use in the U.S. and possible consideration of a replacement ingredient. 

Roundup Settlement Update – Monsanto (Bayer) Agrees to Pay $10.9 Billion

On June 24, 2021, in one of America’s largest-ever litigations settlements, Bayer agreed to pay more than $10 billion to settle thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits. The company is continuing to sell the glyphosate weedkiller without adding health warnings to its label. 

The settlement is intended to cover around 95,000 cases. It also includes more than $1 billion to cover claims from Roundup users who receive a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the future. 

Roundup Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

Numerous Roundup compensation cases have already been settled. Examples of some of the ground-breaking verdicts involving Roundup cancer litigation include:

  • Dewayne Johnson: The 46-year-old California groundskeeper with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was awarded $289 million. According to his attorney, Johnson was involved in two accidents in which he was soaked with the weedkiller. He received his cancer diagnosis two years after the second incident. A judge later reduced the award to $78 million.
  • Edward Hardeman: The 70-year-old Californian had used Roundup to control his weeds at home for more than 26 years. In 2015, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After a jury verdict, the court awarded Mr. Hardeman $80 million. The judge later reduced the award to $25 million.
  • Alva and Alberta Pilliod: The California couple received over $2 billion in damages. After using Roundup on their property for decades, Alva was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2011, and Albert was diagnosed with the same disease in 2015. 

Roundup Lawsuit Statute of Limitations

Each U.S. state has a statute of limitations deadlines for civil cases. This is the length of time you have to file for compensation after a personal injury. If you fail to file your lawsuit before the deadline arrives, you may no longer be able to hold the liable party responsible.  

Several factors can lead to a delay in this type of case. When you talk to a Roundup lawsuit lawyer, they will ask you for specific details, including:

  • The location and length of your glyphosate exposure
  • When you received your diagnosis
  • What state you were living in during your exposure
  • When you found out about the possible link between Roundup and lymphoma

These factors could play a role in how long it takes you and your attorney to take legal action. As well as the state’s statute of limitations, two laws may affect the duration of your case. These are:

  • Roundup – cancer connection discovery: Depending on your circumstances, the statute of limitations clock may begin ticking on the date you were diagnosed with cancer or from the date that you learned there was a connection with your type of cancer and glyphosate-containing weedkillers.
  • Delays during mass torts: The statute of limitations may be delayed (tolled) in some cases so that the lawsuit may be filed after the statute of limitations has expired. This allows individuals who may qualify to have their cases consolidated into mass litigation.   

Who Can File a Roundup Lawsuit Against Monsanto?

You may be able to pursue damages in a Roundup cancer lawsuit if you have received a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and were regularly exposed to Roundup glyphosate-based herbicide. 

An attorney can evaluate your case and let you know if you are eligible to file. If you are, an attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf and attempt to reach an out-of-court settlement. If this is unsuccessful, they can pursue legal action in court on your behalf. A mass tort attorney also can help you join Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) 2741, the current mass tort litigation against Roundup manufacturer Monsanto and parent company Bayer AG.

MDL 2741 Is Not a Class Action Lawsuit

In the case of the Monsanto Roundup litigation, there is no class-action suit. However, MDL 2741 is a consolidation of lawsuits into multidistrict litigation. In this type of litigation, many cases with similar facts and arguments are united and transferred to a single federal court. Handling litigation in this way reduces costs and facilitates settlement negotiations. 

An MDL differs from a class action in several ways. In an MDL, each plaintiff is entitled to their day in court if they wish; the result of a single case does not necessarily impact other case results. However, the results may help to strengthen other pending MDL lawsuits against Monsanto.  

How to File a Roundup Lawsuit

You must take several important steps before and during filing your Roundup lawsuit, such as the following:

  • Obtain medical records: The foundation of a Roundup case is that use of a glyphosate-based herbicide has led to cancer. Therefore, you must provide medical documentation of your non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or another type of cancer diagnosis. Roundup has also been linked to other forms of cancer, such as leukemia and pediatric brain cancer.
  • Compile medical history: In addition to the details of your medical diagnosis, it is also important that your attorney has the details pertaining to when you received your diagnosis, what tests were used, and what treatment options you are pursuing. Your lawyer will also need to know if you have any family history of this type of cancer. There’s no need to worry if you don’t yet have all this information. Your attorney will help you gather the information. 
  • Your Roundup use: Although this may be difficult, you must try to remember how often and when you used Roundup. One of the most important factors in this lawsuit is proving that Roundup exposure caused your cancer diagnosis. Although you may have used Roundup very frequently if you worked in agriculture or groundskeeping, you may still have suffered everyday exposure from using it around your residential property.  
  • Think about your economic damages: As with any other personal injury case, you need to consider what your potential compensation could be. Due to your medical diagnosis, many of your claims for damages will be apparent, such as medical expenses and lost income. Although such economic situations can devastate your daily life, they do not cover the complete damages you may be entitled to. 
  • Consider your non-economic damages: Non-economic damages cover mental and emotional suffering, or pain and suffering, caused by the impact of your cancer diagnosis. Damages in this category can also include loss of life enjoyment, permanent disability, and permanent scarring. An attorney can establish a dollar value for each non-economic damage suffered. This is important because these damages usually have no fixed value, which can make it challenging to measure their impact. Non-economic damages can also lead to punitive damages, but this depends on the case. These damages are designed to punish the liable party and ensure they do not commit this type of negligence again.
  • Get in touch with a Roundup attorney: If you have used Roundup at work or home and your doctor has recently diagnosed you with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or another type of cancer, Monsanto’s Roundup may be linked to your diagnosis. Discussing your case with an attorney will help you understand if you can pursue damages from the chemical company Bayer and how much you could recover. Once you have attained a lawyer, they will help you with every step of your case, so you do not have to worry about dealing with the process alone. 

Connect with a Lawyer for Your Roundup Lawsuit Case

Personal injury lawyers throughout the United States protect the rights of individuals who have been injured or developed an illness due to prescription medications or other chemical or pharmaceutical agents. An attorney can help you find the settlement you deserve in your Roundup cancer lawsuit. 

We can help you find attorneys who can help you develop your case against global pharmaceutical companies, such as Bayer AG, and seek to recover the compensation that can help you pay your expenses, replace lost income, and other losses. You can take your first step today by getting a free consultation and case review with a legal professional. For more information, fill out the contact form for help with your case.