If you use Roundup, the most popular weed killer in the world, you may be worried that it causes cancer. The popular weed killer has been a subject of controversy and debate for years. Class action lawyers have dealt with numerous cases related to Roundup exposure.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the scientific evidence and what it means for Roundup lawsuits.
Roundup’s Active Ingredient and Cancer Risk Debate
When it comes to the question of whether Roundup causes cancer, the scientific evidence isn’t conclusive. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, and it works by inhibiting an enzyme that plants need for growth.
Some studies have suggested that glyphosate may be linked to cancer. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) argued that glyphosate may be carcinogenic. A 2019 study found glyphosate exposure increases the risk of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma by 41%.
However, other agencies, such as the EPA, have found that glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic. Furthermore, the IARC only looked at whether glyphosate could potentially cause cancer. They did not evaluate how likely it is to actually do so.
The IARC’s classification of glyphosate was based on limited evidence from animal studies and observational studies in humans. But observational studies can be biased and don’t necessarily prove causation.
The bottom line is that scientists don’t know for sure if Roundup causes cancer or not. But there is research suggesting that it can, and Monsanto did not warn consumers of the risk.
Overview of Roundup Litigation
The popular herbicide has been under fire in recent years. Some plaintiffs who sued the manufacturers of Roundup have been awarded millions in damages. However, over the last two years, Bayer has won important victories in court.
The first case against the manufacturers of Roundup was filed in 2015. The plaintiff, Dewayne Johnson, was a groundskeeper. He used Roundup just about every day of his life.
Johnson was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014. His case went to trial in 2018. The jury found that Monsanto had failed to warn Johnson of the risks associated with Roundup. Johnson was awarded $289 million in damages. This award was later reduced by the court upon appeal by Monsanto.
Since then, more than 100,000 other lawsuits have been filed against Monsanto and Bayer. Bayer acquired the defunct company back in 2018.
In March 2019, a jury in California awarded $80 million to a man who claimed that Roundup caused his cancer. In a separate case just two months later, Monsanto was ordered to pay $2 billion to a couple who said that their cancers were caused by the herbicide.
So far, juries have been largely sympathetic to plaintiffs in these cases.
The Makers of Roundup Didn’t Warn Consumers
While there is debate among scientists about whether Roundup causes cancer, there is enough evidence that courts have awarded some plaintiffs large sums of money.
The burden of proof in a civil case is something called the preponderance of the evidence standard. That means a class action lawyer only needs to show it’s more likely than not that Roundup caused a client to develop cancer.
The verdict in the Dewayne Johnson case in San Francisco was based on the opinion of one expert witness who said that Roundup was “more than 50 percent” responsible for causing the plaintiff’s non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Monsanto denies that Roundup causes cancer. But lawsuits have alleged that Monsanto hid the risk of using Roundup. This failure to warn is inexcusable and puts consumers at risk.
Call Our Class Action Lawyers for Help Today!
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer after using Roundup, you may be entitled to compensation. We offer new clients a free, initial consultation so it will cost you nothing to find out if you have a valid claim.