September 05, 2019 - Monsanto Roundup Cancer Lawsuits - Currently, only three Roundup weed killer cases have gone to trial. In each of these three cases, the plaintiff was awarded a settlement by the jury. In the most recent case, a California jury awarded a couple substantial actual and punitive damages, and the remainder for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. It would certainly seem that the jury was definitely trying to send a message to Monsanto and its parent company, Bayer—not only is this the eighth-largest personal injury award in United States history, it is the largest award of any personal injury case this year.
The couple who received this award—Alva and Alberta Pilliod—are currently in their 70’s and have been using Roundup for more than four decades. Alva was diagnosed with Roundup non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in his spinal column and bones, while Alberta was diagnosed with Roundup non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma brain cancer. Monsanto and Bayer have vowed to appeal the verdict, as they have always maintained that glyphosate, the primary ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, does not cause cancer.
The First Monsanto Weed Killer Trial Verdict – Dewayne Johnson, a former school groundskeeper, was the first Roundup cancer patient to take Monsanto to trial. Although a judge later reduced his initial award, a jury awarded Johnson significant monies in damages. Like the Pilliod case, Monsanto and Bayer have appealed the case. In Johnson’s trial, as well as in the second Monsanto Roundup weed killer trial for Edwin Hardeman, the evidence allowed to be presented by the plaintiffs was limited by the judge, however, in the Pilliod case, jurors were allowed to see internal text messages and emails between Monsanto and the EPA. Some of these internal memos appeared to show a relationship between the EPA and Monsanto, with one EPA official seemingly offering to help stop another agency’s review of glyphosate, saying, “If I can kill this, I should get a medal.”
The Second Monsanto Roundup Weed Killer Trial – For the thousands of people who may have Roundup cancer, the fact that Monsanto and Bayer continue to maintain their product is totally safe is of little comfort. A federal jury found in favor of Edwin Hardeman, the second plaintiff in a Monsanto Roundup weed killer trial, finding Monsanto failed to properly label Roundup regarding potential Roundup cancer risk. Hardeman used Roundup to control weeds and poison oak on his property for at least two decades before being diagnosed with Roundup non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2015. Hardeman was awarded millions in punitive damages, including damages for past and future pain and suffering, and damages for medical expenses related to his Roundup non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The jurors in Hardeman’s trial believed Monsanto ignored scientific studies which showed the harmful health effects of Roundup weed killer.
How a Roundup Lawyer Can Help – If you or a loved one used Roundup weed killer and were later diagnosed with Monsanto Roundup cancer or Roundup non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, you could benefit from filing a Roundup weed killer lawsuit. An experienced Roundup lawyer can assist you with your Monsanto cancer lawsuit, ensuring all deadlines are met, and all your questions are comprehensively answered.