RoundUp Lawsuits

Roundup is a popular weed-killing product that has been sold in American hardware stores and supermarkets for decades. Roundup is primarily composed of glyphosate, a chemical herbicide that kills any and all plants it comes into contact with. Since Roundup’s introduction to the market in the 1970s, thousands of Americans have been diagnosed with cancer that may be linked to exposure to glyphosate.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer after known exposure to Roundup, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. Our team of nationwide personal injury lawyers at Bailey Glasser is ready to assist you and your family today.

Roundup and Glyphosate Weed-Killers

Roundup was introduced in the 1970s by Monsanto, a massive agricultural products corporation that was involved in nearly every aspect of American agriculture during the 20th century. The active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate, an indiscriminate herbicide that kills all plants upon contact. But after Monsanto introduced Roundup, it also began to manufacture “Roundup Ready” crops – genetically modified seeds that were resistant to glyphosate herbicides.

Thus, a farmer could plant Monsanto seeds, spray Roundup on the crops from those seeds, and all other plants except the crops would die. For that reason, Roundup became a rapidly popular tool on farms and in gardens all across the country, peaking in the 1990s.

Since then, Monsanto has been purchased by Bayer, a German pharmaceutical company that manufactures aspirin and prescription drugs, among other products. Today, the use of Roundup and similar glyphosate products is so common across the United States that in 2022, a CDC study estimated that glyphosate traces could be found in urine samples from 80 percent of the American population.

Glyphosate Toxicity

By its nature, a chemical that kills any and all plants on contact does not sound like a product that should be sprayed on food being grown for human consumption. Somewhat predictably, then, glyphosate has now been revealed as toxic to humans. In 2015, the World Health Organization labeled glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic,” meaning that it likely causes cancer in humans. The State of California has also labeled glyphosate as “known to the state to cause cancer.”

In light of glyphosate toxicity, thousands of Americans have developed cancer after being exposed to the chemical by Roundup products. More specifically, glyphosate has been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and certain types of leukemia. Individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer caused by exposure to Roundup have filed thousands of lawsuits across the United States.

Monsanto and Bayer Pseudoscience

Through the course of these lawsuits, evidence has been discovered to show that Monsanto not only knew that Roundup could be harmful, but that Monsanto attempted to wrongfully influence scientific research to show that the product was not dangerous. Through ghostwriting, which is a highly unethical practice, Monsanto sought to influence the outcome of numerous “scientific” studies which purport that glyphosate does not cause cancer.

While these studies claimed to be authored by legitimate scientists, they were actually authored by Monsanto operatives looking to create a favorable outcome for Monsanto’s business interests. Today, there are conflicting scientific reports as to whether glyphosate is dangerous, and if so, to what degree. However, because of Monsanto’s wrongful influence on the available research on glyphosate, it is impossible to say which of these “studies” are scientifically valid.

Nonetheless, numerous valid, accepted studies have concluded that Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides cause cancer in humans. Those studies include the following:

2003, The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine concludes that glyphosate exposure leads to higher rates of lymphoma
2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a section of the World Health Organization, labels glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic”
2019, University of Washington finds that exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides are associated with increased risk of lymphoma

Cancer Linked to Roundup and Glyphosate Exposure

Glyphosate exposure has been specifically linked to non-Hodgkins lymphoma and certain types of leukemia. Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, the most common type of cancer linked to glyphosate exposure, is a cancer of the lymph nodes that can be devastating to patients and their families.

The symptoms of non-Hodgkins lymphoma include:

Swollen or painful lymph nodes
Chest pain, coughing, or breathing problems
Abdominal pain or swelling
Fatigue and fever
Night sweats and sudden weight loss

Roundup Lawsuits

In the past decade since glyphosate toxicity was discovered, more evidence has been unearthed to show that Monsanto and Bayer are at fault. In 2003, a Monsanto scientist wrote in an email that “we have not done the necessary testing on the formulation” to conclude whether Roundup causes cancer.

Yet, to this day, Monsanto and Bayer deny that Roundup is carcinogenic – but the evidence shows that the companies deliberately buried their heads in the sand about Roundup’s potential to harm consumers. In 2015, the first personal injury lawsuit against Monsanto was filed by a cancer patient, and thousands have followed in the years since then.

Jury Verdicts in Roundup Cancer Trials

The first Roundup case to go to trial occurred in 2018, and a California jury awarded the plaintiff almost $300 million in damages. In that case, the plaintiff presented evidence that Monsanto knew of the risks of glyphosate herbicides and failed to warn consumers of its cancer causing attributes.

The plaintiff, Dewayne Johnson, was a groundskeeper who routinely used Roundup and other related products in his work. Mr. Johnson was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 42, and he was given a terminal diagnosis. The jury in Mr. Johnson’s case determined that even though evidence conflicts as to whether Roundup causes cancer, Monsanto and Bayer nonetheless failed to warn Mr. Johnson and other customers that the product could cause cancer.

Soon after Mr. Johnson’s case, two other plaintiffs received large jury verdicts against Monsanto and Bayer, including a $2 billion verdict in May 2019.

Roundup Multi-District Litigation

Many Roundup lawsuits have been consolidated together as class actions or in multi-district litigation proceedings, commonly known in federal courts as MDLs. In an MDL action, similar or identical cases that are filed in different jurisdictions across the country are consolidated into one “parent case” in a single court to allow for more efficient processing.

The Roundup MDL, set up in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, is titled In re: Roundup Products Liability Litigation. The MDL consists of thousands of cases filed in federal and state courts across the country, and it has been proceeding since 2016. Today, most cases in the Roundup MDL have been settled, but many pending cases remain.

Otherwise, Roundup class actions are proceeding in many state courts across the country, and new Roundup lawsuits are filed almost every day. Class actions are similar to an MDL in that they allow for many plaintiffs to consolidate their claims together, but in MDLs, individual plaintiffs still have to carry forward their own case. In a class action, plaintiffs merely “opt-in” to a lawsuit and are not responsible for litigating the case on their own.

How to File a Roundup Lawsuit

Even though thousands of Roundup lawsuits have been filed across the country, it’s important to note that new lawsuits are being filed every day, and one of those could be yours. An experienced and capable personal injury attorney can assist you and your family in evaluating your claim for compensation, and if possible, determining the best way to pursue compensation for your injuries.

Compensation Options for Roundup Cancer Victims

When companies like Bayer and Monsanto market products that cause innocent consumers to become injured, they deserve to be held responsible for their wrongful actions. Options for seeking Roundup cancer compensation include more than going to trial. Compensation may be available from a variety of sources, including:

Jury verdicts from a trial
Settlement agreements reached with Bayer and Monsanto
Class action settlement pools
MDL settlement pools

Sometimes, accessing Roundup compensation doesn’t even require a lawsuit to be filed. Compensation may be available to you and your family much faster than you think, and an attorney can assist you in evaluating your options.

When to Seek Compensation for Roundup Cancer

The most successful Roundup compensation claims are those with recent cancer diagnoses and with history of a proven and repeated exposure to Roundup. In cases with diagnoses that are not recent, claimants may run into issues with statutes of limitations that prevent them from filing new claims.

Otherwise, additional time between a diagnosis and a claim for compensation usually leads to smaller settlement amounts. For that reason, it is in your family’s best interest to consult with an attorney as soon as you receive a cancer diagnosis if you suspect that your cancer may have been caused by exposure to Roundup and glyphosate.

Contact Bailey Glasser Today

At Bailey Glasser, our legal representation team comprises dedicated attorneys working nationwide. Our collective passion drives us towards seeking justice for victims ensnared in the complexities of corporate misconduct, particularly those involved in RoundUp lawsuits. Our expertise doesn’t stop there; we also have in-depth experience in handling diverse and complex cases, such as Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits, providing representation for Long COVID Long Term Disability issues, and pursuing Defective Firearms Lawsuits.

We believe in standing by our clients from the get-go, and that’s why we offer free, no-risk consultations. These engagements allow us to assess your case in detail, understand your unique requirements, and lay out a personalized strategy best suited to your situation. If we’re positioned to represent your interests most effectively, we commit to advocating for you and pursuing justice on your behalf to the fullest extent permissible by law. Whether it’s RoundUp lawsuits or any of our specialized areas, our priority is to ensure you navigate the legal intricacies with confidence, striving towards securing the justice and compensation you deserve.