Update on Roundup Lawsuit

If you have followed the story of the lawsuits filed against Bayer, the makers of the popular Monsanto weed killer Roundup, you have likely heard or read that Bayer reached a settlement of about $10 – 11 billion for distribution to many plaintiffs. That settlement was offered to resolve about 100,000 cases of individuals claiming that using Roundup caused them to develop cancer. The billion-dollar settlement also included over one billion for future claims from those who may yet develop cancer as a result of their use of Roundup.

In the actual initial trials that were conducted pitting Bayer against claimants, several claimants won and were awarded massive amounts of money in both civil and punitive damages. It was concluded by jurors that Roundup’s main ingredient, glyphosate, did indeed lead to cancer, mainly Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and that the company made consistent efforts to cover up the known risks of its product. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a form of cancer that attacks lymph tissue and is deadly. After these trials indicated the likely outcome for any further trials, the settlement offer was initiated.

Developments as of October 2020

In the latest development regarding Roundup litigation, the California Supreme Court refused to review a previous trial in which a California claimant won millions of dollars against Bayer. Bayer had appealed to the court seeking to get the trial findings reversed but its efforts failed.

The case involved the unanimous decision by the jury that the claimant’s exposure to Roundup led to Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The court also decided that Monsanto’s actions to conceal the known risks should also result in punitive damages as well as compensatory damages. The total damages awarded in the case were $289 million but were reduced later to $20.4 million due to the fact that the claimant was expected to die shortly from his disease.

Cases May Still Be Coming In

In 2016, Multi-District Litigation (MDL) by a judge in the Northern District of California was created to handle all pending and future lawsuits involving Roundup. MDLs result in class actions against defendants that make it easier for claimants to file claims and to get a share of settlements. It was estimated that about 100,000 cases would be settled for claimants under the MDL. In September 2020, reports indicated that settlements were still ongoing. As of this date, it appears that the settlement process is still continuing for original claims that went to the MDL.

What about new claims? Since a large number of claims have now been settled, what does that mean for new claimants? Will the MDL continue to settle for individuals bringing new and future claims? This is a situation that calls for the representation of a personal injury law firm that can explore your options. If you believe you now have a claim against Bayer, you should speak to an attorney about your situation. Your claim must be based on the fact that you used or were exposed to Roundup after which you then were diagnosed with cancer.

Discuss Your Case with an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer

At Casey Law Offices, S.C., we have helped countless individuals across Wisconsin. Through our work, we have helped these individuals win settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases that have brought them the compensation they needed and deserved. Our lead attorney alone has more than 25 years of legal experience in this field. We provide efficient and effective representation aimed at helping you obtain the justice you need. If you have a cancer-related Roundup case, we urge you to call us to discuss it in a free consultation as soon as possible.

We are available at (414) 272-5564 or through our online contact form. Call today.