Monsanto Roundup: Lawsuits and Legal Issues

In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the active ingredient in Monsanto Roundup weed killer products is a probable carcinogen. Gardeners, homeowners, and groundskeepers became concerned about possible health impacts from prolonged exposure.

Glyphosate is the world’s most popular herbicide. It was produced by Monsanto decades ago. It’s also the active ingredient in Roundup weed killer. Scientists and attorneys wondered whether glyphosate could cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Some juries have said yes. However, many government regulators, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have found no health risk. Read on to learn more about the Roundup cancer lawsuits and whether you or your loved ones have a potential legal claim.

You can also talk to a product liability attorney for targeted legal advice. An experienced attorney can review the circumstances of your illness and determine whether you have a valid claim. If so, they will advocate for you throughout the legal process and fight for fair compensation.

Glyphosate and Cancer: Ongoing Scientific Debate

The debate over whether glyphosate is a human carcinogen has been ongoing for years. Much of the discussion concerns whether glyphosate causes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other types of cancer. However, people exposed to Monsanto’s weed killer have developed other illnesses.

In recent Roundup claims, plaintiffs have alleged that Roundup also causes the following illnesses:

• Parkinson’s
• Leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Autism
• Nervous system disorders
• Alzheimer’s
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Respiratory illnesses
• Liver disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Heart disease
• B-cell lymphoma
• Congenital disabilities

The Roundup class action multidistrict litigation (MDL) lawsuit is still ongoing. Bayer, the company that acquired Monsanto in 2018, still denies liability.

Bayer Denies Liability

Bayer AG denies that Roundup is hazardous to humans. The company has pointed to the EPA saying that glyphosate is safe. The EPA also said the weed killer isn’t harmful to humans when used properly.

But the EPA is at odds with the World Health Organization. In 2015, the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared that glyphosate is”probably”carcinogenic.

Disagreement over whether Roundup’s active ingredient is a carcinogen will likely continue. This is why so many cases are still pending. The defendant has already appealed several verdicts.

Roundup Product Liability Litigation

The Roundup class action MDL lawsuit first gained national attention in 2018. Plaintiff Dewayne”Lee”Johnson of San Francisco sued the manufacturers of Roundup. Johnson was a school groundskeeper in California who used Roundup for much of his career.

Johnson filed suit against Monsanto when he received a terminal diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The jury ruled in favor of Johnson and awarded him $289 million. Only $49 million was compensatory damages, and $250 million was punitive damages.

The appeals court would later reduce the judgment to $79.5 million, arguing that the punitive damages awarded by the jury were excessive.

In another 2019 case (Hardeman v. Monsanto), the jury awarded the plaintiff $80 million. Like Johnson, Hardeman’s attorneys argued that the defendant knew their product was harmful and intentionally failed to warn consumers. Hardeman was the first bellwether trial in the federal multidistrict litigation.

That same year, in Pilliod v. Monsanto, the jury awarded the plaintiff an astonishing $2.055 billion. However, Bayer petitioned the Supreme Court to review the judgment award. The courts later reduced Pilliod’s award to $87 million.

This isn’t the only time the defendant has asked the U.S. Supreme Court for help. As reported by Reuters in 2022, the German company Bayer has asked the Court to intervene and reverse the judgments filed against them. They argue that federal regulators have confirmed the safety of glyphosate and, so, the Court should vacate the judgments. Vacating a judgment means setting aside a previous court ruling, effectively voiding and reopening the case.

Thousands of People Have Filed Suit Against Monsanto

The judgments issued in the above three cases are unique. Other plaintiffs alleging illnesses from Roundup exposure may not receive the same compensation. The early cases demonstrated the risk of cancer associated with glyphosate exposure.

Cases will likely settle now that the federal courts have consolidated much of the Roundup litigation. Many Americans with cancer or other related illnesses will receive much lower payouts. This is also true for any future Roundup cases.

Landscapers were many of the claimants in the class action lawsuits filed against Monsanto Co. and Bayer. They were at an increased risk of harmful exposure. However, some are homeowners and gardeners who argue they became sick after using  Roundup.

Bayer faces lawsuits filed by consumers. However, other entities have sued them as well. For example, New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the company for violating state laws and regulations on false and misleading advertising.

In 1996, the State of New York cited Monsanto for false and misleading advertising. The parties settled the matter. Monsanto promised it wouldn’t engage in this kind of behavior going forward.

The AG argued that the defendant violated that agreement. The parties settled the case in June of 2023 for $6.9 million.

Federal Courts Have Consolidated Many Monsanto Lawsuits

As often happens in toxic tort cases, federal courts have transferred most of their Roundup cases from diverse locations around the country. Instead, they will be handled jointly in a single venue. Federal District Court Judge Vince Chhabria (Northern District of California) oversees the Roundup Products Liability Multidistrict Litigation.

The consolidation does not mean the defendant is off the hook in state courts. Some of those cases are slowly winding their way through the appeals process. If past product liability claims against other manufacturers are any guide, the Monsanto Roundup lawsuits may take several years to resolve.

Reducing Glyphosate Exposure

Many personal injury lawyers still believe that Roundup causes cancer. If your job requires you to use the weed killer regularly, you may want to reconsider careers. 

You can reduce your glyphosate exposure at home, too:

• Buy organic foods when you can, especially produce that is on the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list.
• Prioritize locally-grown food. If your community has a farmers’ market, this is a great place to start. Ask growers if they treat their crops with pesticides or herbicides.
• When purchasing clothing, bedding, linens, and other home goods, look for the MADE SAFE seal or GOTS certification.
• Choose chemical-free products to treat your lawn and grass. If you use a professional service, ask what products they use.

If you believe you were exposed to glyphosate and have developed cancer or any other illnesses listed above, contact a personal injury lawyer immediately.

Injured by Monsanto Roundup? Talk to a Lawyer

If you have non-Hodgkin lymphoma or other related medical conditions and think Roundup caused your illness, you may have a legal claim. You may still have time to participate in the Roundup settlements.

Contact a Roundup lawyer right away. If you don’t file your case before the statute of limitations expires, the judge will dismiss your claim.

FindLaw’s directory of product liability lawyers can get you started. Select your state or city to review contact and ratings information for local experts. Your search results will also link you to additional details about the attorneys’ experience with toxic torts.