A jury in San Francisco has ordered Monsanto—an agribusiness company recently acquired by Bayer AG—to pay $289 Million in compensatory and punitive damages to a former school groundskeeper who says his Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was caused by heavy exposure to the company’s Roundup herbicide. The decision could set a precedent in thousands of similar cases against the company and its signature product. A detailed article on the story is available here.
The Test Case
In the first cancer-related case against the company to reach trial, a unanimous jury in the California State Superior Court found Roundup contributed to the man’s illness—adding that Monsanto should have labeled the product to include the potential health hazard. Monsanto has denied any link between Roundup and cancer—adding the company intends to appeal the decision.
A Long History of Suspected Harm
While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states the active ingredient in Roundup—glyphosate—is safe when used per labeled directions, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified the substance as a “probable human carcinogen.” California added glyphosate to a list of known carcinogens in 2015.
The Verdict
The man’s attorneys won compensatory damages of $39 Million and $250 Million in punitive damages—noting the verdict should open the door for other legal actions currently pending against the company.
Graves McLain is Here to Help
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after heavy exposure to Roundup or other herbicides containing glyphosate, call Graves McLain right away at 918-359-6600 or fill out a free consultation form online. When you call one of our experienced Tulsa, Oklahoma Product Liability Attorneys, we will speak with you for FREE and determine the best course of action.
We review every detail of your situation at no cost to you—and fight hard to protect your rights. Trust our team, we are here to help. At Graves McLain, you will never pay an attorney’s fee upfront—and you owe us nothing until we win your case. At Graves McLain, we don’t get paid until you do.
Graves McLain, Serious Lawyers for Serious Injuries