In another verdict for Roundup victims, a Philadelphia jury returned a verdict against Bayer AG’s Monsanto unit for $2.25 billion. The verdict consisted of $250,000 in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages. This award is the largest verdict in the five-year litigation related to the herbicide Roundup. In this post, our Monsanto litigation lawyers break it down.
Details of the Record-Making Roundup Lawsuit Verdict in Philadelphia, PA
John McKivison claimed that he developed cancer after years of using Roundup. He was exposed to Roundup when we worked as a landscaper. The evidence presented outlined McKivison’s use of Roundup starting in 2006. The regular application of Roundup was part of his job as a landscaper. It was estimated that he applied Roundup 30 times before his cancer diagnosis.
McKivison alleged that Monsanto and the chemical supplier placed profits over consumer safety. The lawsuit claimed that the manufacturer failed to caution or warn users about the presence of carcinogenic substances. Furthermore, Monsanto continued to market the product as harmless to the environment and humans, despite evidence to the contrary. The complaint accused the company of giving misinformation to consumers and governmental bodies about the safety of glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup.
Jurors debated for just over an hour before reaching a decision. This trial was the third bellwether trial in the Roundup mass tort in Philadelphia. Previous juries in Philadelphia have ruled against Bayer AG’s Monsanto in two other cases. They awarded the plaintiffs $3.5 million and $1.75 in the other two cases shared to date.
The Decision in the Philadelphia Case Sends a Clear Message – Using Roundup Can Cause Cancer
The attorneys for the plaintiff in the above case stated the punitive damages awarded in the case call for change within the corporation. Bayer announced it would appeal the verdict. The company said that the award was unconstitutionally excessive and did not adhere to scientific research and the findings of regulatory bodies.
However, that is not the complete picture. Bayer relies on several regulatory bodies that have concluded glyphosate (the herbicide in Roundup) does not cause cancer. Yet, there is mounting evidence that exposure to glyphosate can cause non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and related cancers. Many juries agree because the Roundup settlements and Roundup jury verdicts continue to increase.
The World Health Organization’s IARC released information in 2015 identifying glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen. Exposure to a probable human carcinogen can increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Continued research by the University of Washington and numerous facilities and organizations have supported the IARC claims. The University of Washington study concluded that exposure to glyphosate could increase a person’s risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by roughly 41 percent.
Many countries and some states, cities, and counties in the United States have banned or severely restricted the use of Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides. Yet, despite the growing evidence that glyphosate exposure can cause cancer, our EPA fails to take any action. Therefore, Roundup lawsuits continue to be filed, with many juries rewarding large amounts to the plaintiffs.
Should You File a Roundup Lawsuit?
Our Roundup cancer lawsuit attorneys at Wool Trial Law will review your case and explain your legal options. You could be entitled to compensation for injuries and damages if you developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or a related cancer after exposure to Roundup. Contact the experienced team at Wool Trial Law to discuss your case with a Monsanto litigation lawyer. However, there are time limits to file claims, so don’t wait to make that call.