Monsanto Hit with $2 Billion Verdict in Roundup Case

A jury in California has ordered Monsanto, creator of Roundup weed killer, to pay $2.055 billion to Alva and Alberta Pilliod. The Pilliods claimed that Monsanto failed to warn them (and all other Roundup users) of the risks associated with repeated exposure to glyphosate. As a result of that repeated exposure, the Pilliods claimed, both Alva and Alberta developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“It changed our lives forever,” Alberta Pilliod told the Associated Press. “We couldn’t do things we used to be able to do, and we really resent them for that.”

Bayer, which owns Monsanto, will appeal the verdict.

The pressure is beginning to mount on Monsanto

This is the third Monsanto trial since August, and in all three cases, the juries sided with the injured plaintiffs. This is the largest award by a jury so far:

1. Dewayne Johnson. Mr. Johnson was awarded $289 million — $39 million in compensatory damages, and $250 million in punitive damages – in August 2018. He used Roundup as part of his work as a groundskeeper.
2. Edward Hardeman. Mr. Hardeman was awarded $80 million after claiming that he used Roundup “more than 300 times in 26 years.” His case alleged corporate misconduct.
3. The Pilliods. The Pilliods, like Mr. Hardeman, used Roundup to care for their own properties. In their lawsuit, they said they have been using the chemical since the 1970s.

There are more than 13,000 plaintiffs across the country who have filed lawsuits against Monsanto, alleging that they failed to warn consumers about the potential dangers of long-term exposure to Roundup. Per the AP, Bayer’s share prices have been tumbling since the company purchased Monsanto in 2018.

That drop in share prices matters, because major global manufacturers often put their own profits ahead of their customers’ safety. If these lawsuits continue to affect Bayer’s bottom line, that is our best hope of having this dangerous product – and other products like it – removed from the shelves entirely.

“I used Roundup and I’ve been diagnosed with cancer. What do I do?”

If you use Roundup or other glyphosate-based herbicides, and you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, you may be able to file a lawsuit against Monsanto for damages. In order to be successful, you would need to show:

1. That you have used Roundup in the way it was intended to be used;
2. That you were not warned about the potential dangers of Roundup;
3. That you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a disease which has been linked to exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides; and
4. That you have sustained damages, or losses, as a result of your condition.

These losses can be economic (medical expenses, lost wages) or non-economic (pain and suffering, loss of quality of life).

At Cunningham & Mears, our Oklahoma City product liability attorneys have the experience and skill you want on your side. If you were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Roundup, we want to help. To learn more about our experience and services, contact us or call 405-232-1212 today to schedule a free initial consultation. We proudly represent clients throughout Oklahoma.