Monsanto has been found liable for an elderly couple’s cancer in a major case involving its Roundup product line. A jury in California awarded Alva and Alberta Pilliod over $2 billion in a lawsuit over the weed killer. The plaintiffs claim that years of exposure to glyphosate, the key ingredient in Roundup, was responsible for their non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The couple claimed that they used Roundup for over three decades, resulting in years of exposure to the substance.

Health officials have warned for years of a possible link between glyphosate and multiple types of cancer. The World Health Organization, for instance, declared in 2015 that glyphosate is probably a carcinogen. Various cancers have been connected to glyphosate by the WHO and others. They include:

  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • B-cell or T-cell lymphoma
  • Breast cancer
  • Leukemia
  • Myelomonocytic Leukemia (MML)
  • Multiple Myeloma

Unfortunately, these are not the only known health hazards that may be associated with glyphosate exposure. Other potential problems linked to Roundup and glyphosate are:

  • Death of human embryonic cells
  • DNA and chromosomal damage
  • Hormone disruption
  • Autism
  • Kidney disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Infertility
  • Birth defects
  • Eye, skin, and respiratory irritation

Monsanto has arguably known about the safety risks of its herbicide products for decades. Yet they hid these problems and sold them to the public anyway. Some have even alleged that Monsanto’s own scientists wrote studies defending Roundup. These biased studies were then presented as “independent.” There are claims that executives worked with former Environmental Protection Agency officials in a concerted effort to deceive the public.

The parent company of Monsanto, Bayer, has promised to appeal the record-setting verdict. Some legal observers say that the amount will likely be reduced on appeal. However, Monsanto faces many more pending cases in federal and state courts. The company has also experienced several recent losses in court, including this latest one out of California.

No one disputes that Roundup has grown in popularity for decades. Since the 1970s, it has become the weed killer of choice for farmers, homeowners, and others. This widespread use means that there are many cancer and other cases likely connected to Roundup. Indeed, potentially thousands of people have been exposed to the glyphosate in the herbicide, and are suffering as a result.

So who may be affected by Roundup? The list is surprisingly extensive. Agricultural workers have increasingly relied on the product in recent years. These include those working in greenhouses and landscaping. A variety of crops, from corn to cotton, have been genetically modified to be resistant to glyphosate. This modification allows Roundup to be used in heavy quantities to kill weeds while not harming the crops. Farmers, or anyone else who has come in contact with glyphosate, are therefore at an especially high risk.

The list doesn’t end there. Homeowners commonly use Roundup to control weeds around their houses. Business owners use it to keep their premises neat and well-maintained. Food that has come in contact with Roundup may be unfit for human consumption. For these reasons, many more cases are likely to arise in the future.

If you or someone you love has used Roundup, you may be one of the many victims deserving compensation. Lawyers working these cases will seek damages to cover the following:

  • Medical costs, including for future treatments
  • Physical injuries
  • Lost wages
  • Inability to return to work

The attorneys at Bayer are not expected to give up without a fight. In addition to appealing these and other verdicts, the company wants to defeat the lawsuits still pending throughout the country. You need an attorney who will diligently investigate your exposure to Roundup and the health effects you’re suffering.

Our Attorneys Are Ready to Fight for You

Bayer has the resources it needs to get the legal results it wants. This is why an experienced lawyer is critical to taking on the deep pockets behind Roundup and other unsafe products. Don’t wait, call us today for a consultation.