Bayer Settles 15,000 Lawsuits over Roundup Cancer Allegations

Bayer AG, a German multinational pharmaceutical company that took over seed and chemical company Monsanto in 2018, recently settled 15,000 lawsuits in an $11 billion settlement over allegations that their Roundup weed killer causes cancer. This is the latest batch of lawsuits resolved in court regarding this allegation, bringing the total of resolved cases to approximately 45,000 with more claims pending.

Roundup weed killer has been linked to diagnoses of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Roundup is a highly potent herbicide intended to maintain industrial, agricultural, and consumer environments by killing weeds with a chemical spray. While the product serves its intended purpose effectively, it carries a dangerous cost; user health. Attorney George McLaughlin explains that most users of Roundup do not know to use protective equipment when working with these kinds of chemicals, leading to serious injuries and illness when the product comes into contact with the skin. The EPA has not required a cancer risk to be included with the sale of the product, leaving consumers unaware of the potential consequences of using this product.

A primary ingredient in Roundup weed killer is glyphosate, a chemical associated with increased cases of cancer.

Glyphosate is a chemical that has more recently been associated with an increase in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a serious form of cancer. Roundup has also been linked to blood disorders in which the blood becomes cancerous. Exposure to glyphosate and other chemicals in Roundup can occur by inhaling the spray itself during use or absorbing it through the skin. While industrial workers might know to use protective equipment when using this and similar products, the average consumer is more likely to use the weed killer while wearing shorts and flip flops in their front yard, putting them at increased risk of exposure to the dangerous chemical.

On September 14th, 2020 three lawyers who took Bayer to trial over allegations of their product’s cancerous nature announced they had reached binding settlements. The settlements secured by these attorneys cover approximately 15,000 lawsuits of the 45,000 total resolved cases regarding the harmful effects of this weed killer. It is estimated that Bayer may face up to 125,000 more similar claims in the future. Plans are currently in the works to arrange a panel of independent scientists to study the potential negative ramifications of glyphosate weed killers on user health, to see if the chemical should be labeled an official carcinogen after all. Concerns over this study arise primarily from the possibility that this study could delay further litigation and follow-through on proposed settlements.

Litigation regarding cancer potentially caused by Roundup weed killer is ongoing. If you think you have a case, contact George McLaughlin or another product liability attorney right away.