Couple Awarded Billions for Cancer Caused by Roundup Weedkiller
Over the past year, there has been a massive controversy surrounding Roundup weedkiller and its alleged ability to contribute to the development of cancer within individuals that are regularly exposed to it. There have been several lawsuits to date that have successfully managed to hold the maker of Roundup weedkiller, Monsanto, responsible for its negligence. However, Monday saw one of the greatest blows dealt to the massive chemical and agricultural company when an Oakland jury awarded compensation in the total of $2 billion dollars to plaintiffs suing Monsanto for the damage that their product did to their health and livelihoods by contributing to the development of cancer. This is by far the largest judgment that Monsanto has had to contend with in this continuing saga of litigation caused by their controversial herbicide.Latest Monsanto Case Victory for Injured Plaintiffs
The couple consisting of husband, Alva Pilliod, 76, and his wife, Alberta Pilliod, 74, were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2011 and 2015 respectively. The couple claimed that their cancer was caused by their repeated exposure to Roundup weedkiller that they used on the grounds of the three properties they owned in the Bay area. They sprayed roundup on several properties once a week for nine months out of the year. It is estimated by their lawyer that they managed to spray 1,500 gallons of Roundup weedkiller over three decades. As of now, both Mr. and Mrs. Pilliod's cancers are in remission but still can flare back up at any time leaving them in constant fear of the consequences. The total of the money they were awarded came to $1 billion each for punitive damages against Monsanto with additional damages of $37 million for Alberta Pilliod and $18 million for her husband for pain and suffering and economic losses. “We wouldn't have used it if the product had come with a warning label,” said Alberta Pilliod. Mr. Pilliod said that he was initially told that Mrs. Pilliod had died when she was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2015. Mrs. Pilliod still has symptoms that she suffers from like double vision and impaired balance plus she will have to go through chemotherapy treatments for the rest of her life according to her lawyers. The Pilliod's lawyers also stated that Mr. Pilliod was told that he only had a few months to live after his cancer diagnosis in 2011.Other Major Monsanto Roundup Weedkiller Cancer Lawsuits
The Pilliod's case against Monsanto is only the most recent to come to award injured plaintiffs out of over 13,000 lawsuits filed against the agricultural company nationwide. To this day Monsanto still maintains that their weedkiller is absolutely harmless and that there is no risk of cancer that comes with exposure to it. All this comes in contradiction to two additional cases that also found that Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller contributed to the development of cancer in two different people that were exposed to it over a long period of time.Dewayne Johnson vs. Monsanto Roundup Cancer Lawsuit
In August of 2018, the San Francisco Superior Court found that former groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson's long term exposure to Roundup weedkiller contributed to his development of terminal non-Hodkin's lymphoma which doctor's estimated left him with less than a year to live. The court went on to award Dewayne Johnson $289 million in damages which was eventually reduced to 78.5 million. Dewayne Johnson utilized Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller in his groundskeeping duties at the schools in Vallejo where he sprayed large amounts of the herbicide and suffered significant exposure over several years. After being diagnosed with non-Hodkin's lymphoma, Mr. Johnson became aware of several studies that linked an active ingredient in roundup called glyphosate to an increased risk of cancer. This became a key part of Johnson's case where the presentation of these studies and more resulted in his successful litigation of Monsanto.Edwin Hardeman vs. Monsanto Roundup Cancer Lawsuit
After Dewayne Johnson's triumph over Monsanto, many other lawsuits arose after many people that used Roundup extensively heard that it may have contributed to their cancer. One such person was Edwin Hardeman who used Roundup weedkiller on his property in Forestville for more than 26 years. Much like Dewayne Johnson, his extended exposure to Roundup weedkiller resulted in a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Mr. Hardeman ended up successfully suing Monsanto as well and was awarded $80 million in damages and opening the floodgates for a number of people across the country to hold Monsanto accountable for their negligence when it came to their distribution of Roundup weedkiller.Roundup Weedkiller Cancer Lawsuits
The lawsuits against Monsanto for their Roundup weedkiller fall under the category of product liability. Product liability lawsuits are intended to hold companies liable for the injuries suffered by consumers because of their product. Mostly this is because of a product's defect due to design or manufacturing but also because of a lack of warning or caution labels for consumers to be informed. The roundup weedkiller lawsuits of Dewayne Johnson and Edwin Hardeman focused on the fact that Monsanto failed to provide adequate warning and caution labeling on their roundup product that contained an ingredient that several studies have found to increase cancer risk. Naturally, companies are held accountable for the injury they cause to their consumers when something like this occurs and Monsanto is no different.Seek an Experienced Product Liability Attorney
If you or a loved one have been injured because of a product's negligent design or manufacture, then do not hesitate to contact Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA about a free consultation on your claim. Our skilled lawyers have the expertise you will need to secure the settlement that you deserve. Dolman Law has years of experience when it comes to handling product liability claims and ensuring that our clients receive the compensation that they need in order to pay off their medical expenses, lost wages, etc. When you enlist the assistance of Dolman Law you are ensuring that your case gets the small firm attention it deserves with big firm results. Contact us at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA's offices. Please fill out our online contact form or call us at 727-451-6900. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33765 727-451-6900