Blog
Jury awards couple $2 billion in Monsanto Roundup cancer lawsuit trial
by Mandy Hicks
Breaking news from CBSNews.com: “A jury in Oakland, California, has awarded a couple $2 billion in punitive damages after concluding that sustained exposure to Monsanto Co.’s popular Roundup weed killer led to their cancer diagnoses. The couple will receive an additional $55 million for pain and suffering and to cover medical expenses.
The Alameda County Superior Court jury deliberated for less than two days before reaching a verdict.
Seventy-six-year-old Alva and 74-year-old Alberta Pilliod used Roundup for about 30 years for residential landscaping, which the jury believed played a “substantial factor” in their development of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Alva was diagnosed in 2011; his wife, Alberta, received the same diagnosis four years later. They are both in remission.”
In addition to this most recent ruling, in August 2018 a jury in San Francisco awarded $289 million to a former school groundskeeper who claimed Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The Judge in that case lowered the verdict to $78 million.
In March 2019, another jury in San Francisco awarded nearly $80 million for failing to warn of the cancer risks.
ELPO Law predicted the potential for these possible rulings in a blog post titled New lawsuits in process against maker of Roundup on February 24, 2017:
If you are suffering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer, and you have been exposed to Roundup, you may need legal help.
A recent scientific study labeled glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, a class 2A carcinogen. Glyphosate may be linked to cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Those who have this disease need to know that lawsuits are underway against Monsanto, the manufacturer of Roundup. If you have been exposed to Roundup, either as a consumer, a farmer or landscape worker, it is important to know your rights, and to act quickly. The statute of limitations, which restricts how long you have to file a lawsuit, may apply. It is important to begin research soon to see if you should be represented by counsel.
Background
The International Agency for Research on Cancer is part of the esteemed World Health Organization. IARC does research on various diseases, and produced an extensive report on various insecticides and herbicides in 2015. The report included information on glyphosate.
The World Health Organization announced that glyphosate was a “probable carcinogen” in March 2015, and lawsuits were filed against Monsanto after the WHO made the announcement.
Roundup is sold extensively around the world.
The IARC cited evidence from exposure to humans reported since 2001, including cases in Canada, the U.S. and Sweden. In 1985, glyphosate was originally labeled probably carcinogenic by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency based on tumors in mice, but the EPA changed this after re-evaluating the mice study in 1991.
Monsanto has said in media reports that Roundup, and glyphosate, are safe and effective.
PBS Newshour published a story about this development in 2015, which you can read here.
Glyphosate is used in other similar products, too.
Currently, many lawsuits against Monsanto are filed in Northern California as part of an MDL – multi-district litigation. Plaintiffs who have been exposed to Roundup are joining this lawsuit or filing their own as more facts are revealed. Kentucky plaintiffs can seek representation from our firm, and we will assist our clients with filing suit against Monsanto.
If you would like more information about your own experience with Roundup weed killer…
We can review your case with you to determine if you are eligible to file a claim against Monsanto at no charge to you. It is important to act quickly. Fill in the information on under Contact Us on the left hand side of this page to be contacted immediately.
