Monsanto Roundup lawsuits consolidated in California MDL

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation announced in October 2016 that it would consolidate dozens of Roundup lawsuits filed against Monsanto in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in California. At least 37 lawsuits against Monsanto had been filed on behalf of individuals who were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using Roundup.

Roundup is a commercial herbicide containing the chemical glyphosate. Multiple studies have linked exposure to herbicide products containing glyphosate to an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other types of cancer. Lawsuits filed against Monsanto allege that additional chemical known as POEA contained in Roundup makes the product even more carcinogenic than glyphosate by itself.

In 2015, the World Health Organization declared that Roundup and other herbicides containing glyphosate were “probably carcinogenic to humans.” The WHO also stated that glyphosate could possibly cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Other studies have linked glyphosate exposure to other forms of cancer, including Hodgkin’s lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia, multiple myeloma, and soft tissue sarcoma

Although Monsanto has allegedly known about the link between Roundup and cancers such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma as early as 1985, the lawsuits allege that the company continued to widely market and sell the product in more than 130 countries worldwide. In addition to the widespread sale of Roundup products, Monsanto has also been actively engaged in developing genetically-modified “Roundup Ready” crops specifically tailored to be resistant to glyphosate-containing herbicides.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California was chosen as the forum for the Roundup MDL because two of the lawsuits filed in that court against Monsanto were among the earliest and most advanced claims filed against the company.  Bellwether cases – which may be used to determine the value of a settlement in the remaining lawsuits against Monsanto – will be chosen by attorneys involved in the case from among the 37 cases that currently make up the MDL.

Diagnosed with Cancer? You May Qualify to File a Lawsuit.

Gardeners, farmers, homeowners, lawn care workers, and other plant growers who used Roundup or other glyphosate herbicides and were diagnosed with cancers such as glyphosate may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Dozens of lawsuits against Monsanto have already been filed on behalf of individuals who were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or other cancers. The first step in filing a claim is to speak with an experienced attorney who can advise you regarding your legal rights and guide you through the first steps of filing a case.

The lawyers at Heygood, Orr & Pearson have taken on some of the world’s biggest corporations on behalf of our clients. Our attorneys are trial lawyers in the truest sense of the term, and have achieved verdicts and settlements for our clients totally hundreds of millions of dollars, including cases filed against pharmaceutical giants, oil and gas companies, multinational conglomerates, and other corporations. At Heygood, Orr & Pearson, we believe that all individuals should have access to experienced, professional legal counsel to ensure that their legal rights are protected in a court of law.

For more information about the Roundup lawsuits filed against Monsanto and to learn more about whether you may qualify to file a claim, contact the lawyers at Heygood, Orr & Pearson by calling toll-free at 1-877-446-9001. You can also reach us by following the link to our free case evaluation form and answering a few brief questions about your case to get started.