In a groundbreaking verdict, a jury in Missouri has ordered Bayer and its subsidiary, Monsanto, to pay a staggering $1.56 billion to four plaintiffs who say the company’s Roundup weed killer caused injuries, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a cancer of the lymph system. The jury found that the company failed to warn users about the health risks associated with its glyphosate-based weed killer and acted with reckless disregard for the health and safety of consumers. This landmark verdict marks another significant blow to Bayer and Monsanto, who have faced over 120,000 Roundup lawsuits and paid out billions in damages and Roundup settlements over the past eight years. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with NHL allegedly associated with Roundup, contact Consumer Safety Watch today to explore your legal options.
Roundup is a widely-used herbicide that contains glyphosate as its active ingredient. It was developed by Monsanto, a company that was acquired by Bayer in 2018. Roundup is primarily used to kill unwanted weeds and grasses that compete with crops, making it a popular choice among farmers, gardeners, and homeowners. However, there have been growing concerns about the safety of Roundup, amid evidence linking glyphosate to an increased risk of cancer and other potential injuries.
The controversy surrounding Roundup stems from its potential health risks. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate in Roundup as a probable cancer-causing agent in 2015. Additionally, dozens of research studies have demonstrated a concerning association between glyphosate exposure and an increased risk of NHL. A study published in the journal Mutation Research in 2019 revealed that exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides, such as Roundup, may increase the risk of NHL in humans by as much as 41%.
A perspective published in the journal Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia in 2021 looked at the breadth of scientific literature linking glyphosate exposure to NHL, with a focus on new findings since the IARC published its decision in 2015. The author, a board-certified pathologist at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, CA, concluded that the findings provide “coherent and compelling evidence that glyphosate and GBFs are a cause of NHL in humans exposed to these agents.”
Roundup cancer lawsuits first began to be filed in 2015, following the IARC’s classification of glyphosate as a probable carcinogen. Since then, thousands of individuals have pursued legal claims against Bayer and Monsanto, alleging that Roundup use caused their non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Over the past few years, Bayer has agreed to pay billions in Roundup settlements to resolve individual product liability lawsuits. However, there are still several thousand pending claims from plaintiffs who rejected settlement offers as well as new claims from former Roundup users who recently developed NHL. Recent verdicts against Bayer and Monsanto underscore the ongoing legal battles and the significant financial implications for the manufacturers.
In the latest Roundup cancer trial, a Missouri jury awarded a combined $61.1 million in compensatory damages and $500 million each in punitive damages to three plaintiffs: Valorie Gunther of New York, Jimmy Draeger of Missouri, and Daniel Anderson of California. Additionally, the jury awarded Draeger’s wife $100,000 for the harm she allegedly suffered as a result of her husband’s illness. The jury found that Bayer and Monsanto failed to warn users about the increased risk of cancer associated with Roundup use and imposed punitive damages to penalize the companies and deter similar conduct in the future.
Although the outcome of the Missouri trial does not have a binding impact on other Roundup claims, it provides valuable insight into how juries in state courts may respond to similar evidence and testimony that is likely to be repeated throughout the litigation. Most of the Roundup cases in the United States are currently pending in Missouri state court, where Monsanto has its U.S. headquarters. Additionally, hundreds of federal Roundup claims have been centralized in the Northern District of California before U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria.
The $1.56 billion verdict in the latest Roundup cancer trial in Missouri is a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between consumers and Bayer/Monsanto. The jury’s decision to hold the companies accountable for failing to warn users about the risks associated with Roundup underscores the importance of transparency and consumer safety. As more injury claims are filed and the trials continue, the outcome of these cases will shape the future of Roundup litigation and potentially pave the way for justice for those affected by the alleged harmful effects of glyphosate exposure. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Roundup, it is crucial to consult with an attorney experienced in product liability cases. Contact Consumer Safety Watch today to learn more.
