After long-term exposure, Monsanto’s widely-used Roundup weed killer can cause a rare form of cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as many other major cancers and illnesses. This simple truth became clear to the public after a jury awarded $289 million to a California groundskeeper who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, followed almost immediately by an $80 million jury verdict in San Francisco for a similar case last month.
In spite of the overwhelming evidence provided to juries in these cases, however, Monsanto and parent company Bayer still refuse to take meaningful responsibility for causing cancer injuries and putting the public at risk. If you’ve been affected by Monsanto’s negligence, you may have grounds to sue the agrochemical giant and hold them accountable for your losses. However, going up against such a vast corporate entity can require serious commitment – and there are a few things you’ll need to know before you bring a Roundup weed killer lawsuit.
Understanding Monsanto’s Role in Roundup Injuries
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published a study saying that glyphosate – the main ingredient in Roundup – causes cancer in animals and that it would likely do the same in humans. Monsanto fought back hard against this study when it came out, and in court, the company has repeatedly shared an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study saying that glyphosate is not carcinogenic. However, as the recent lawsuits ultimately brought to light, RoundUp is actually considered more dangerous to humans than other glyphosate-based weed killers, because it uses a specific and potent cocktail of chemicals that can all contribute to cancer.
According to litigation documents from the most recent case, Monsanto may have also attempted to plant false reviews defending Roundup in academic journals, and funded the ghost-writing of false scientific literature. Because the public now knows that Monsanto tried to control information about the risks of Roundup, there’s a compelling legal precedent for new claimants to come forward.
When Can I Pursue Compensation?
More than 8,000 plaintiffs have already filed product liability lawsuits against Monsanto, all of them citing deadly injuries caused by Roundup weed killer. The third of the major lawsuits, Pilliod v. Monsanto Company, began in earnest on March 28th 2019, and hearings are already well underway.
If you believe that long-term, unprotected use of Roundup may have contributed to your cancer diagnosis, you could be eligible to file a suit of your own. While there are currently no mass torts cases available, it’s highly likely that plaintiffs may join together soon in pursuit of similar damages. At Richard Schwartz & Associates Injury Lawyer, P.A., our Jackson Roundup liability lawyers have the knowledge to help you file and pursue your claim, whether it takes the form of an individual lawsuit or a mass tort.
Here are some of the things you should begin to gather for your claim:
- Medical records. To prove cancer injuries, you must have clear and undeniable proof that you received medical care for a cancer diagnosis. You may want to consider asking your healthcare providers for a full copy of your medical records.
- Purchase receipts. It’s a good idea to track down any receipts that show Roundup-related purchases and transactions, or to verify its use with a past employer. It may sound like a small detail, but it can help to show a clearer line of causality to the jury or judge.
- Evidence of product use. You should also establish how often the product was used, getting as much detail as you can. Photographic evidence, witness testimony, and other details can be pivotal to showing that you used Roundup for many years, leading you to become sick.
If you believe you have a case, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Contact us today at 601-988-8888 to get the skilled counsel you need in Mississippi.
