In a groundbreaking verdict, jurors earlier this month awarded a California man $289 million after he successfully sued Monsanto claiming that Roundup weed killer caused him cancer.

The man claimed that Monsanto’s glyphosate-based weed-killer caused him cancer of the lymph system. He worked as a groundskeeper and pest control manager for a school system, and claimed he used the weed killer up to 30 times per year for his job.

He is not expected to live past 2020, according to his doctors. His trial was fast-tracked in California court due the fast-spreading nature of his cancer. His attorneys claimed that Monsanto knew for decades that Roundup could cause cancer and did nothing to warn people about the product.

Interestingly, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2017 concluded that glyphosate risks were not associated with cancer, an assessment that the World Health Organization disagreed with in 2015, claiming glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

The man claimed that he suffered two incidents at work where he was soaked with Roundup products. Two-years after one of the incidents, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He now is too crippled to speak and lesions cover about 80 percent of his body.

Jurors awarded the man $39 million in compensatory and $250 million in punitive damages. During the trial, jurors heard testimony from researchers and scientists, some of whom claimed the product was cancerous, with others disagreeing. They also heard from the man’s family members who now support him, as he is unable to work.

Monsanto attorneys said they will appeal the verdict; however, the company will have to pay interest on the damages awarded while the case moves through appeals.

Legal experts told CNN that there are more than 4,000 similar cases awaiting trial in various state courts over weed-killers. Additionally, there are about 400 cases that have been filed in federal multidistrict litigation (MDL).

Our Central Texas Injury Attorneys Can Help You Fight Back

We will continue to monitor Roundup cancer cases. As this verdict shows, companies that allegedly put out defective or dangerous products can be held liable when they make users ill or kill them.

Nobody should have to suffer due to a company putting profits ahead of consumer or worker safety.  If you or your family member has been harmed by a dangerous chemical product, contact our Central Texas injury attorneys. We can investigate a person’s work history to determine if he or she was exposed to dangerous products and for how long.

We are the personal injury law experts of Central Texas.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/10/health/monsanto-johnson-trial-verdict/index.html