One of the key ingredients in Roundup is called glyphosate. This ingredient has been connected to several different dangerous types of cancer, including leukemia, b-cell lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Thousands of injured individuals have filed lawsuits alleging that the use of the popular weed killer caused them to develop cancer. There are currently thousands of class action lawsuits regarding roundup.
Bayer is Currently Facing Over 52,000 Roundup Lawsuits
Bayer recently acquired Monsanto, the original producer, and manufacturer of Roundup. In April 2020, Bayer issued their quarterly statement. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits allege that they were exposed to glyphosate products in Roundup that caused their cancer. Bayer reports that it expects additional lawsuits in the near future.
There are currently no trials involving Roundup that are scheduled to start before the end of June 2020. The trial schedules remain fluid, however, and could change unexpectedly. The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down the progress of court-ordered mediation. Nine class-action Canadian lawsuits related to the use of Roundup have been brought as of April 14, 2020. These plaintiffs have served notice on Bayer and are seeking class-action certification.
Recent Roundup Class Action Litigation for False Advertising
A group of plaintiffs recently filed a Roundup class action lawsuit against Monsanto in Los Angeles Superior Court (MDL 2741). The lawsuits claim that the company engaged in a false advertisement that Roundup products were safe to use.
The plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit also claim that the company falsified documents deliberately, concealing information that the glyphosates in Roundup are dangerous to the environment and to the humans who use the product. This class action lawsuit is still in the pretrial stages. In January, the court issued an order denying a motion to exclude certain testimony from experts while limiting the scope of the doctors’ testimony.
Monsanto Continues to Deny the Link Between Roundup and Cancer
Bayer has recently acquired Monsanto. Monsanto has continued to deny the link between Roundup and the development of cancer. We have seen this type of denial before. Johnson & Johnson continued to deny the link between their talcum powder products and cancer, refusing to settle any cases until recently. Nonetheless, several big victories for plaintiffs in Roundup lawsuits could spur the company on to begin settling with plaintiffs.
A U.S. Judge Recently Cut a $2 Billion Roundup Verdict to $86 Million
In July 2019, a California jury awarded a plaintiff $2 billion after he contracted cancer after using Roundup. A Superior Court judge ruled that the punitive damage award was unconstitutional and excessive. The judge refused to strike out the punitive damage award in full, however. Instead, the couple will receive only $17 million in compensatory damages as well as $69 million in punitive damages.
This case set a significant precedent and remains one of the largest jury awards in California. Bayer has now lost three jury trials regarding Roundup litigation as of now. Juries in California have granted multimillion-dollar jury awards. Bayer is appealing to these decisions.
Bayer Is Currently Involved in an Innovative Massive Class Action Settlement
As of the end of June 2020, Bayer is considering a massive class action settlement. The settlement could potentially end litigation surrounding Roundup. The company has decided to pay a settlement of up to 9.6 billion to settle 94,000 lawsuits involving claims that Roundup caused non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
This proposal must be approved by a court. Should a court approval, the class action could determine issues related to causation while preserving each plaintiff’s individual right to bring a lawsuit. This ruling could set a precedent that changes the way that defendants achieve “global peace” when it comes to massive class-action lawsuits.
Essentially, in this prospective class-action that has been newly filed, every plaintiff who was exposed to Roundup but has not hired a lawyer to bring a tort lawsuit could receive compensation. Leading lawyers have agreed to create a panel of five scientific experts.
These experts will determine questions as to whether Roundup can cause cancer, and, if so, at which levels of exposure Roundup cause cancer. In the meantime, Bayer has agreed to pay $1.1 billion to diagnose people for the class as well as to offer assistance to members of the class who develop cancer before the experts make a decision.
Contact Our Experienced Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers
It remains to be seen whether the proposed Roundup settlement will go through. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer after being exposed to Roundup, the best thing you can do is to hire an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. Contact the Alabama personal injury lawyers at Heninger Garrison Davis today to schedule your initial consultation.
