Bayer has settled a lawsuit over the negative effects of Roundup weedkiller in a New York lawsuit. The pharmaceutical company settled the Roundup lawsuit on June 15, 2023, in the latest win in the ongoing litigation regarding Roundup’s harmful effects like increased cancer risk.
However, this latest lawsuit settlement differentiates itself from the many other lawsuits involving consumers diagnosed with cancer since it instead revolves around the environmental impact Roundup has. This goes to show that Roundup’s harm does not stop at individuals diagnosed with cancer and other illnesses but affects even the ecosystem itself.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma or other Roundup-related cancer after long-term use of the herbicide then consider contacting the product liability lawyers at Dolman Law Group as soon as possible. You may be able to seek compensation for the damages you have suffered in a Roundup lawsuit.
The New York State Roundup Weedkiller Case
Many Roundup lawsuits have been filed by individual plaintiffs across the country and in mass torts over the weedkiller’s undisclosed risk of cancer. The litigation against the now defunct Roundup manufacturer, Monsanto, and Bayer, the company that acquired the agricultural company for $10.9 billion has resulted in millions of dollars in settlements paid to thousands.
In this latest settlement, the case involved claims by New York Attorney General Letitia James that Roundup weedkiller was falsely advertised as safe for the environment. Monsanto notably marketed Roundup as being entirely safe for the environment with marketing materials stating that Roundup "won't harm anything but weeds" and that the herbicide was safer than detergent and soap.
Contrary to these claims is the reality that Roundup weedkiller has been found to be a carcinogenic substance that can dramatically increase the chance of developing cancer through long-term exposure. Humans are not alone when it comes to this danger and the nature of Roundup spraying across areas where the chemical can endanger the ecology as well.
The New York Roundup Lawsuit Settlement
This settlement comes after a previous settlement with Monsanto in 1996 over its false advertising at the time which the newest case found the company to have breached. The $6.9 million settlement will be put towards dealing with the effects of herbicides on the various affected fauna.
It is important to note that Bayer has not admitted to any wrongdoing at all and continues to deny that Roundup weedkiller is a danger to those exposed despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Why is Roundup Harmful?
Roundup is a broad-spectrum herbicide originally produced by Monsanto and marketed as a weedkiller for households, agriculture, and groundskeeping. The active ingredient of Roundup is glyphosate, which while effective at killing plants, is also effective at slowly killing people by causing cancer.
Glyphosate was formulated in the 70s and then marketed as Roundup later that decade. It has been on the market for decades now and affected several generations through harmful exposure. Several studies have confirmed that glyphosate is carcinogenic and significantly increases the chance of cancer development through exposure over time through skin contact.
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency for the World Health Organization (WHO), classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans”. In 2019 researchers from the University of Washington concluded through a study of Glyphosate that exposure to the chemical can increase the risk of non-Hodkin lymphoma by 41%.
Illnesses Caused by Glyphosate Exposure
Glyphosate exposure is closely tied with the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma which is a cancer of the lymph system with a high rate of mortality. The dangers posed by Roundup also include an array of other types of cancer as well as other severe illnesses. Other cancers connected to glyphosate exposure include:
- Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas
- B-cell lymphoma
- Burkitt lymphoma
- Follicular lymphoma
- Marginal zone B-cell lymphomas
- Mantle cell lymphoma
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma
Other illnesses that have been connected to glyphosate exposure include:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Respiratory illnesses
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Birth defects
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Autism
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Cancer
- Liver disease
- Celiac disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Chronic kidney disease
- Heart disease
- Colitis
- Diabetes
- Depression
Roundup Does Not Instantaneously Cause Cancer
While Roundup exposure should be taken seriously and the use of the herbicide should be discontinued, Roundup’s carcinogenicity is more of a concern for those with long-term exposure. Those who have only had isolated cases of mild exposure to Roundup are much less likely to develop severe illnesses related to glyphosate. The vast majority of Roundup lawsuits involve claims revolving around plaintiffs that have developed illnesses related to long-term exposure to glyphosate.
Roundup Weedkiller Lawsuits
It is no secret that chemicals like herbicides and pesticides are not good for your health and that you should avoid unnecessary exposure. Roundup is harmful to your health and has been shown to be a cancer risk but so are a number of other household chemicals that are not the focus of thousands of lawsuits.
The difference with Roundup is that Monsanto failed to properly disclose the risk of cancer which has led to this recent $7 million settlement in New York as well as millions more paid to thousands of other plaintiffs. Product liability lawsuits like those Roundup is facing seek compensation because of a failure to inform the consumer of risk which is a right we all enjoy through proper labeling practices.
Monsanto’s failure to do so has made them liable for the damages caused by Roundup-related cancer which can include medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, and even pain and suffering.
Contact an Experienced Roundup Weedkiller Lawyer
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after long-term use of Roundup weedkiller then you should consider contacting the Roundup Lawyers at Dolman Law Group for a consultation on your case. Dolman Law Group is a personal injury law firm that represents clients injured by harmful products across the country and can assist you in seeking compensation for the damages you have suffered because of Monsanto’s negligence.
Our Roundup lawyers have experience handling product liability lawsuits that involve products like herbicides, household chemicals, and even defective drugs and have the case results and client testimonials to prove it. Seeking the assistance of our Roundup lawyers gets you legal representation that has a real vested interest in not just the outcome of your case but how you as a person harmed by negligence come out of the process as well. We want to see you made whole and our lawyers have devoted a combined total of over 100 years in this field to making this happen for countless clients.
Dolma Law Group offers free consultations so consider contacting our offices as soon as possible to get an idea of how we can help get you maximum compensation in your Roundup lawsuit.