Bayer is facing hundreds of new Roundup lawsuits filings, likely inspired by a recent California verdict awarding millions to man who was diagnosed with cancer following repeated exposure to Monsanto’s glyphosate-containing weed killers.
8,700 Roundup Lawsuits and Counting
Bayer – which only recently completed its acquisition of Monsanto – acknowledged last week that 8,700 American plaintiffs had filed Roundup lawsuits, most of whom say they were sickened by glyphosate, the active ingredient in the controversial herbicide.
That represents an increase of 700 filings since the Roundup verdict was announced in San Francisco Superior Court on August 10th.
Just a few months prior, the number of Round lawsuit filings stood at 5,200 nationwide.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Bayer expects even more filings in the future.
Glyphosate Declared Probable Carcinogen in 2015
Roundup is one of several glyphosate-containing weed killers developed by Monsanto.
While it ranks as the best-selling herbicide globally, glyphosate was declared a “probable human carcinogen” by the World Health Organization’s International Agency Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2015.
Specifically, the agency linked glyphosate exposure to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and its various subtypes, including lymphocytic lymphoma / chronic lymphocytic leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia, and others.
While California added glyphosate to its list of chemicals known to cause cancer that same year, a review completed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2017 purportedly found no link to cancer.
However, critics of the agency have asserted that Monsanto exerted undue influence over the EPA’s glyphosate review.
California Jury Awards $289 Million to Roundup-Exposed Groundskeeper with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
The case that concluded last month in California marked the first time a Roundup lawsuit went to trial in the United States.
Jurors deliberated for 3 days before unanimously awarding Dwayne Johnson and his family $289 million in compensatory and punitive damages, after finding that Monsanto’s glyphosate herbicides caused the 46-year-old father of two to developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Johnson, who said he used the herbicides 20-to-30 times per year while working as a school district groundskeeper, is considered terminal.
Among other things, jurors found that Monsanto acted with malice and oppression in failing to warn Johnson’s employer about the risks potentially associated with glyphosate.
Undefeated Personal Injury Lawyers with Over $1 Billion Won for Our Clients: Call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here for a Free Consult
Having won over $1 billion for our clients, including many people across Texas, Louisiana, and throughout the United States who were injured or tragically killed by defective or toxic products, our Undefeated Personal Injury Lawyers have the resources and expertise to ensure that you and your family are fully compensated for all of your injuries and losses.
If you or someone you love was diagnosed with cancer following Roundup exposure, please call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here to send us a confidential email via our “Contact Us” form.
All consultations are free and, because we only represent clients for a contingency fee, you’ll owe nothing unless we win your case.