Thousands of lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. by individuals who were diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or other cancers after using Roundup weedkiller.
Farm workers, gardeners, and other individuals who used Roundup and were diagnosed with cancer may be eligible to file a lawsuit and seek compensation for their illness.
➢ Roundup Linked to Increased Cancer Risk
Roundup – a weedkiller containing the active ingredient glyphosate – is the most widely used herbicide in the world. Roundup was developed in the 1970s by Monsanto, which also marketed a special line of Roundup Ready genetically-modified crop seeds designed to resist the effects of glyphosate. Roundup is currently sold by Bayer, which purchased Monsanto in 2016.
For years, Monsanto and Bayer denied there was any evidence that workers who were exposed to Roundup could face an increased risk of developing lymphoma or other cancers. But all that changed after an analysis in 2015 by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found that Roundup and other glyphosate weedkillers were “probably” carcinogenic to humans. About 70% of the studies that were analyzed by scientists at the WHO found that exposure to Roundup could increase the risk of cancer. The IARC eventually classified glyphosate as a “Group 2A” carcinogen, meaning that glyphosate herbicides like Roundup may contribute to an increased cancer risk.
➢ Workers at Risk of Lymphoma & Other Cancers
Most of the Roundup lawsuits against Monsanto and Bayer have been filed by gardeners, groundskeepers, and other plant-care professional who came into direct contact with Roundup during their work. Many lawsuits have also been filed by homeowners and home gardening aficionados who hand-sprayed Roundup that may have come into contact with their bare skin.
Some types of workers who may be at risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or other cancers from using Roundup may include:
- Farmers and farm workers
- Gardeners
- Golf course greenskeepers
- Landscaping professionals
- Private homeowners
➢ Types of Cancer Associated With Glyphosate Exposure
Most of the lawsuits against Bayer and Monsanto over Roundup were filed by individuals who were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after being exposed to glyphosate. A 2019 study published by the journal Mutation Research found that Roundup and other glyphosate herbicides could increase the risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by 41%.
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, the body’s system for fighting disease and infection. Patients who are diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma develop tumors that form in a type of white blood cells known as lymphocytes. The first symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma swollen glands or lymph nodes, fever, stomach pain, and chest pain.
Other types of cancers that may also be linked with exposure to Roundup include:
- Burkitt lymphoma
- Follicular lymphoma
- Hairy cell lymphoma
- Large B-cell lymphoma
- Mantle cell lymphoma
- Peripheral T-cell lymphoma
- Skin lymphoma
➢ Roundup Lawsuits Filed Against Bayer & Monsanto
Bayer and Monsanto are facing facing more than 125,000 lawsuits over the link between Roundup and cancer as of July 2020. These lawsuits allege that workers and consumers who developed lymphoma or other cancers after using Roundup were not warned about the carcinogenic properties of the weedkiller by the two companies.
The first Roundup lawsuit to go to trial against Bayer and Monsanto was filed by Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, a retired groundskeeper from California. Johnson alleged that he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2014 after years of mixing and spraying hundreds of gallons of Roundup weedkiller. Johnson was eventually awarded $78 million in damages after a jury unanimously agreed that Roundup caused his cancer diagnosis.
In March 2019, a federal jury in San Francisco awarded $80 million in damages to a California homeowner, Edwin Hardeman. Hardeman filed a lawsuit against Monsanto and Bayer after he was also diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma after 30 years of spraying Roundup on his property.
Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a California couple who were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Roundup, were awarded more than $2 billion in damages by a California jury in May 2019. The verdict included $1 billion in punitive damages to each of the couple, as well as $55 million in compensatory damages.
➢ Roundup Cancer Victims May Qualify to File a Lawsuit
If you or a loved one are under 70 years old, have been diagnosed with lymphoma or other cancers, and used Roundup or other glyphosate weedkillers regularly, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. The first step in taking legal action is to speak with an experienced attorney who can advise you regarding your legal rights and walk you through the first steps in filing a claim.
The lawyers at Hissey, Mulderig & Friend have filed thousands of lawsuits on behalf of consumers who have been injured by dangerous commercial products like Roundup. Our attorneys have also filed claims on behalf of patients who have been harmed by dangerous drugs and defective medical devices.
For more information about filing a Roundup lawsuit and to find our whether you may be eligible to file a claim, contact the lawyers at Hissey, Mulderig & Friend for a free legal consultation. You can reach us by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or by filling out our free case evaluation form located on the right side of this page.