Yet another trial has ended with a verdict against Monsanto’s Roundup®, ruling in favor of individuals who were exposed to Roundup® and later diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This time, Monsanto, which was purchased by Bayer in 2018, is facing a $2 billion loss. A California jury deliberated the verdict in just two days after a seventeen-day trial in which a married couple, each diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, proved their cancers were both caused by use of the herbicide/weed-killer, Roundup®.
This is the third trial involving Roundup® and allegations that the main ingredient, called glyphosate, and Roundup® itself cause non-Hodgkins lymphoma. All three trials have ended in verdicts against Monsanto/Bayer. A trial in March of 2019 ended in an $80 million verdict and another trial in August of 2018 resulted in a $289 million verdict against Monsanto – (that verdict was eventually reduced to $78 million by the presiding judge).
In the most recent trial, the jury awarded the couple $2 billion ($1 billion each) for punitive damages and an additional $55 million in collective compensatory damages. Punitive damages are awarded in a lawsuit when the defendant’s willful acts are deemed to be malicious, violent, oppressive, fraudulent, wanton or grossly reckless. Evidence presented at trial included that Monsanto intentionally suppressed and discredited data concerning Roundup’s® cancer risks for decades. Furthermore, Monsanto never conducted studies on Roundup® to determine the safety of the herbicide. The substantial punitive damage award indicates that the jurors did, in fact, find the company’s actions to be “willful” and “reckless.”
Bayer’s stock has dropped approximately 45% in the last year, largely resulting from the three jury verdicts. The corporate giant currently faces over 13,000 additional lawsuits involving Roundup® and cancer.
Attorney Brett H. Oppenheimer is now taking cases for people who developed non-Hodgkins Lymphoma after exposure to Roundup®. Brett believes companies that put profits ahead of consumer safety should be held accountable for their actions. If you want to discuss a possible case involving Roundup® with Brett, please call (502) 242-8877 or email Brett using the contact form on this page. He will be glad to talk to you about your case free of charge.