Monsanto faces Roundup lawsuits over weedkiller cancer link

The agricultural giant Monsanto is facing lawsuits alleging that the weedkiller Roundup may cause an increased cancer risk. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against Monsanto by farm workers and others who were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after being exposed to Roundup.

A 2015 study published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organization, found that glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, was “probably carcinogenic”. The study found that glyphosate caused cancer in laboratory animals and damaged DNA in humans. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is currently reviewing the safety of glyphosate.

Attorneys representing Roundup users who were diagnosed with cancer say that there are more studies pointing to a link between Roundup and cancer, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lawsuits filed on behalf of Roundup users allege that Monsanto has known about the cancer risk of the weedkiller for decades, but failed to properly warn consumers about the dangers of the product.

Some of the Roundup lawsuits against Monsanto were filed on behalf of migrant farm workers who were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after being exposed to Roundup in Texas, California, or other states. Other lawsuits over Roundup have been filed by farmers who were exposed to glyphosate or consumers who used the weedkiller in their backyard or home garden. In July, a federal judge in Hawaii rejected a motion filed by Monsanto to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the company by a coffee farm owner who was diagnosed with lymphoma after years of exposure to Roundup.

In January 2016, Monsanto filed a lawsuit in California to prevent glyphosate from being added to a state list of known carcinogens. California state law requires health officials to maintain a list of cancer causing chemicals and to inform residents about their risks. The lawsuit would prevent California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment from adding glyphosate to this list.

Monsanto is also facing hundreds of lawsuits filed on behalf of individuals who allege that they were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma as a result of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs, which were once widely used as a coolant in electrical equipment, copy paper, and heat transfer fluids, were later declared to be a known carcinogen by the WHO. Monsanto is facing at least 700 lawsuits filed by individuals who allege that they were diagnosed with lymphoma after being exposed to PCBs.

Chemical Exposure Lawsuits Filed by Heygood, Orr & Pearson

If you or a loved one were sickened as a result of exposure to chemical products, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the oil, natural gas, or chemical company responsible for your injuries. Filing a lawsuit against a chemical company can be difficult and time-consuming. The chemical industry is willing to fight to avoid responsibility for the injuries and illnesses caused by their products. To file a case, victims of chemical exposure need experienced, dedicated attorneys with the legal and financial resources to bring their case to trial.

The lawyers at Heygood, Orr & Pearson have the experience and dedication to handle personal injury and product liability cases against the chemical industry or other corporations from start to finish. In many instances, our firm invested hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of our clients in order to take a case to trial on their behalf. At Heygood, Orr & Pearson, we are committed to achieving justice for our clients, whatever the cost.

Our lawyers have filed hundreds of lawsuits involving personal injury, product liability, dangerous drugs or medical devices, commercial claims, and other legal matters on behalf of our clients. The lawyers at Heygood, Orr & Pearson have achieved verdicts and settlements for our clients totaling more than $200 million—including settlements of over $50 million in one year alone.

If you or a loved one were the victim of chemical exposure, contact the lawyers at Heygood, Orr & Pearson for a free case evaluation and to learn more about your legal rights. You can reach us by calling toll-free at 1-877-446-9001, or by following the link to our free case evaluation form and answering a few questions about your case to get started.

Michael Heygood is a licensed attorney and partner at HO&P who focuses on insurance and corporate litigation, and other civil arenas. Michael has been named multiple times to the Super Lawyers List.