Roundup® Lawsuit | Roundup Cancer Lawyer, Attorney

Thousands of lawsuits accuse Monsanto of failing to warn that glyphosate and other toxic chemicals in Roundup weed-killer might cause non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Roundup induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with lymphoma after using a glyphosate herbicide, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Toxic Chemical Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

UPDATE: Monsanto Offers Up to $45 Million Settlement for Roundup Labeling Lawsuits

In June 2021, Monsanto and its parent company Bayer AG offered to pay up to $45 million to settle multiple class action lawsuits accusing the companies of failing to warn consumers about the risk of cancer on the label for Roundup®.

The settlement would not end around 100,000 personal injury claims involving people who were diagnosed with cancer after being exposed to Roundup.

The $45 million settlement fund would pay consumers up to 20% of the average cost of Roundup products they purchased — or, approximately 50 cents to $33 per product, depending on the size.

Bayer Agrees to $10 Billion Settlement in Roundup Lawsuits

June 24, 2020 — Bayer has agreed to pay at least $10 billion to settle the bulk of roughly 125,000 lawsuits claiming that Monsanto’s Roundup® weed-killer causes cancer. Click here to read more.

Monsanto Pays $39M in Roundup False Ad Class Action Settlement

In March 2020, Monsanto agreed to pay a $39.5 million settlement for falsely advertising Roundup as “safe” for people and pets because it targets an enzyme that is only found in plants. In reality, that enzyme is also found in people and pets, where it is critical for maintaining brain function, digestion, and the immune system, according to the lawsuit.

$2 Billion Awarded in 3rd Roundup Cancer Trial

In May 2019, a jury awarded $2 billion to a married couple from California who both developed lymphoma after 30 years of spraying Monsanto’s Roundup weed-killer on their 4 properties.

$80 Million Awarded in 1st Federal Roundup Trial

A unanimous jury has awarded $80 million to a man with lymphoma who used Roundup weed-killer after finding that Monsanto failed to warn him about possible health risks.

List of Monsanto’s Glyphosate Herbicides

Monsanto Banned from European Parliament

Monsanto has been banned from the European parliament after refusing to attend a hearing into evidence that the company manipulated safety studies involving Roundup. In August, lawyers for people with cancer released documents proving that Monsanto’s employees were secretly involved in editing, organizing, and reviewing several “independent” studies on Roundup side effects. Click here to read more.

Roundup Added to California’s Cancer-Causing Chemical List

California will become the 1st state to require cancer warning labels on Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides. Monsanto will have roughly 1 year to add “Proposition 65” warning labels to Roundup after glyphosate is listed as a carcinogenic chemical on July 7. Click here to read more.

Experts: Roundup Likely Causes Cancer in Humans

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a division of the World Health Organization, declared the herbicide Roundup (glyphosate) as a “probable human carcinogen” in March 2015. The warning was based on “convincing evidence” that glyphosate causes cancer in laboratory rats and mice. In humans, there is “limited evidence” linking Roundup and cancer, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and DNA/chromosomal damage.

Roundup and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Roundup is primarily associated with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, a cancer that starts in the immune system nearly anywhere in the body. It is a blood cancer that grows in lymphocytes, which are white blood cells in the immune system that help the body fight diseases. For more information:

Roundup Lymphoma Studies in Farm-Workers

Studies have found higher rates of this cancer in farm-workers in Canada, Sweden, and the United States who were exposed to large amounts of Roundup:

International Journal of Cancer (October 2008): Swedish study concluded that exposure to glyphosate doubled the risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma within less than 10 years.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine (September 2003): American study of over 3,400 farmworkers in the midwest found higher rates of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma associated with glyphosate exposure.
Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers (November 2001): Canadian study found a dose-response relationship between glyphosate exposure and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Types of Cancer Linked to Roundup

Roundup Lawsuits in Federal Court

The nationwide Roundup litigation has been centralized in Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2741) under U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in the Northern District of California — In RE: Roundup Products Liability MDL.

Roundup Class Action Lawsuit for False Advertising

In April 2015, a Roundup class action lawsuit (Case No: BC 578 942) was filed in Los Angeles County, California. Monsanto is accused of false advertising for claiming that Roundup is harmless to human health because “glyphosate targets an enzyme found in plants but not in people or pets.”

California Farmer Files Roundup Lymphoma Lawsuit

The family of a California farmer who died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma has filed a Roundup lawsuit against Monsanto. The case is unique because the plaintiff, Anthony “Jack” McCall, did not use any other pesticides or herbicides on his farm, never smoked, stayed in shape, and had no history of lymphoma.

The lawsuit (PDF), McCall v. Monsanto, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (Case No. 2:16:cv-01609) on March 9. Click here to read more.

EPA Not Convinced on Dangerous Health Risks

In 1985, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned that glyphosate was a possible human carcinogen. In 1991, the EPA reversed its decision and said there was a lack of “convincing carcinogenicity evidence.” However, in the last two decades, evidence linking Roundup and cancer has grown considerably.

14 Ways Roundup Could Cause Cancer

Roundup lawyers have released evidence supporting a conspiracy between the EPA and Monsanto to downplay the risk of cancer. It all started with a letter from a toxicologist at the EPA who listed 14 ways Roundup could cause cancer and accused Mr. Jess Rowland, the EPA official in charge of reviewing Roundup, of intimidating staff to change reports in favor of Monsanto.

Chelators inhibit apoptosis, the process by which our bodies kill tumor cells
Chelators are endocrine disruptors, involved in tumorigenesis
Glyphosate induces lymphocyte proliferation
Glyphosate induces free radical formation
Chelators inhibit free radical scavenging enzymes requiring Zn, Mn or Cu for activity (i.e. SODs)
Chelators bind zinc, necessary for immune system function
Glyphosate is genotoxic, a key cancer mechanism
Chelators inhibit DNA repair enzymes requiring metal cofactors
Chelators bind Ca, Zn, Mg, etc to make foods deficient for these essential nutrients
Chelators bind calcium necessary for calcineurin-mediated immune response
Chelators often damage the kidneys or pancreas, as glyphosate does, a mechanism to tumor formation
Kidney / pancreas damage can lead to clinical chemistry changes to favor tumor growth
Glyphosate kills bacteria in the gut and the gastrointestinal system is 80% of the immune system
Chelators suppress the immune system making the body susceptible to tumors

Roundup Lawyers Say Monsanto Ghost-Wrote Studies

Documents show that Monsanto secretly ghost-wrote two studies that were published under the names of academics and used by the EPA to determine that Roundup does not cause cancer. One scientist at Monsanto wrote: “We would be keeping the cost down by us doing the writing and they would just edit & sign their names so to speak.”

Ex-EPA Official Used Monsanto Studies

Monsanto’s studies were used by an ex-EPA official, Mr. Jess Rowland, who determined that Roundup does not cause cancer. His committee’s report was “leaked” online and used by Monsanto to defend Roundup just 6 weeks after Roundup was re-classified as a carcinogen by the IARC, prompting speculation that Mr. Rowland was working with Monsanto. Now we have evidence.

Evidence of Monsanto-EPA Collusion

Mr. Jess Rowland tipped off Monsanto months before the IARC re-classified Roundup, giving the company time to prepare a public relations assault. Other government agencies immediately became concerned and said they would investigate. “If I can kill this I should get a medal,” Mr. Rowland told his contact at Monsanto in April 2015.

Monsanto Sues California Over Roundup Cancer Warnings

In January 2016, Monsanto filed a lawsuit against the state of California after it tried to require the company to label Roundup as a possible carcinogen under Proposition 65. In January 2017, a judge rejected the lawsuit, paving the way for California to become the first state in the nation to require warnings.

Rat Studies Link Roundup and Blood Cancer

There are several studies linking glyphosate and cancer in animals. Two studies involving male mice who were exposed to glyphosate reported higher rates of cancer, including renal tubule carcinoma and haemangiosarcoma — a rapidly-growing, highly-invasive sarcoma in the lining of the blood vessels.

Low Doses of Roundup Cause Liver Disease in Rats

In January 2017, Nature published a study showing that ultra-low doses of Roundup caused serious liver disease in female rats who drank it in their water for two years. The doses were comparable to what is found in some tap water that people drink, but much lower than what regulators allow. Click here to read more.

What Ingredients are in Roundup?

Roundup contains glyphosate, a chemical that blocks an enzyme plants need to survive. The Label (PDF) and MSDS for Roundup Original indicates that 41% is glyphosate and 59% is “other ingredients” that are not named. Most formulations of Roundup contain a soap-like chemical called POEA that helps glyphosate get into the plant.

How Does Roundup Work?

The active ingredient, glyphosate was commercialized by Monsanto in 1974. It works by specifically inhibiting an enzyme that is essential to plant growth and life. Roundup also contains other chemicals that help glyphosate get into the plant. For example, most formulations of Roundup contain a chemical surfactant called POEA that is known to be toxic to aquatic animals. Monsanto insists that glyphosate alone is harmless. However, the combination of POEA and glyphosate is much more hazardous than glyphosate on its own.

Roundup and GMO Food

The popularity of Roundup exploded in the mid-1990s, when Monsanto genetically-engineered (GMO) corn, soy, and cotton seeds to survive being sprayed. This allows farmers to spray Roundup over entire fields to kill weeds without killing the crop. Roundup now generates $5 billion in yearly revenue for Monsanto.

Is Roundup In My Food?

Residues of glyphosate have been found in oats, wheat, honey, organic eggs, soy coffee creamer, and many other foods. Roundup is used on many backyard gardens, but most of it is used in commercial agriculture. Roundup is sprayed on over 80% of croplands in the U.S., including crops like alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, and sugarbeets. Many of these crops are grown to feed animals like cows, pigs, and chickens. Roundup is sometimes sprayed on wheat to dry it out just before harvest.

FDA Stops Testing Food for Roundup

In February 2016, the FDA said it would start testing for Roundup residue in food. In November 2016, the FDA abruptly ended plans to test food for Roundup residues due to “disagreement and confusion” about how to conduct the tests across 9 laboratories.

Every year, the USDA tests thousands of samples of food for hundreds of different pesticides, but not glyphosate. Only in one year, 2011, did the agency test for glyphosate. Out of 300 soybean samples, 271 had residues of glyphosate between 0.26 to 18.5 ppm, below the EPA-set tolerance of 20-ppm.

U.S. Honey Tests Positive for Roundup

In January 2016, FDA researchers tested about 10 samples of American honey. All of them tested positive for glyphosate, and some had twice the legal limit of 50 parts per billion (ppb) set in the European Union (EU). The problem is that bees are visiting fields that have been sprayed and carrying Roundup back to their hives.

Regulators Express Concerns About Roundup Hazards

The regulatory status of Roundup in the European Union (EU) has been questioned after several countries refused to extend its 15-year license. Their concerns were based on growing evidence of health risks. According to Bloomberg:

“In February, testing found traces of glyphosate in German beer and organic panty liners sold in France. Other tests have found chemical residue in British bread, as well as in the urine of people across Europe.”

In August 2015, a bill was introduced in Hawaii that would ban spraying of Monsanto’s weed-killer Roundup and other herbicides on public roads, sidewalks, parks, waterways, and more.

Roundup Banned in France by 2022

In June 2015, Roundup was banned from home-gardening centers in France just weeks after it was declared a “probable” human carcinogen by the UN. That same month, Roundup was declared a carcinogen by Denmark’s Working Environmental Authority. France will vote to gradually phase out the agricultural use of Roundup (glyphosate) by 2022 over concerns that the weed-killer may cause non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Click here to read more

Do I have a Roundup Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Roundup induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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Roundup Lawsuit