In May 2019, a jury in California awarded $55 million to a couple who claimed their use of Roundup for approximately 30 years in their residential landscaping was a substantial factor to their development of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The money was to compensate them for their medical expenses and pain and suffering.
The jury awarded the couple an additional amount for punitive damages after the jury reviewed internal documents by Monsanto, the manufacturer and distributor of Roundup, indicating basically that the company lacked interest in determining whether the product was safe.
Two other Roundup lawsuits in California have ended with awards against Monsanto for several million dollars. Nevertheless, Monsanto, through its parent company Bayer, has indicated that it will appeal all such verdicts.
Many lawsuits have been filed across the country by those with diagnoses of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. They allege their cancer was caused using Roundup which contains the cancer-causing chemical, glyphosate.
Conflicting Opinions About the Dangers of Roundup
Through the years, studies concerning the safety of glyphosate as an herbicide have had conflicting results. One extensive study was published in February 2019 based on research conducted by the University of Washington. The results found that the use of Roundup, which includes the chemical glyphosate, increased the risk of being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma by 41 percent.
The study focused on epidemiological studies conducted between 2001 and 2018 to come to its conclusion. Primarily, the researchers evaluated the health of 54,000 people who work as licensed pesticide applicators.
Even so, in May 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its opinion that the glyphosate in Roundup is not related to the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This, despite many other indications that the chemical is harmful.
In addition, those filing lawsuits against Roundup do not allege that it was only the glyphosate that caused the cancer, but the Roundup product itself with its animal fats and other carcinogens also played a role. The World Health Agency (WHO) agreed and in 2015 issued its opinion that “glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans.”
If you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and used Roundup for a number of years for weed control, contact us for a free consultation.
The personal injury attorneys at Springer & Lyle can help you evaluate your case and may be able to obtain just compensation for your injuries. Contact us at 940.387.0404 for a free consultation.
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