Monsanto Loses Third Trial in The Last Year, Over $2 Billion in Damages Owed
In May, Monsanto lost its third trial against plaintiffs who claimed that their use of Roundup® led to them developing Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
The latest plaintiffs, Alva and Alberta Pilliod of Livermore, California, were diagnosed with lymphoma after they had been using the weed killer in their lawn for years. Thinking it to be a safe, as advertised by Monsanto, they did not wear any masks or gloves.The five-week trial concluded with the jury awarding both Alva and Alberta $1 Billion in punitive damages each, plus another $55 million in damages.
The total climbs to $2.424 Billion in damages awarded to plaintiffs against Monsanto and will be joined by around 11,000 other suits still pending. Even after losing three trials already, Monsanto has maintained their position of innocence throughout the process. They will head to trial again in August against Sharlean Gordon, a woman who has had to undergo two stem cell transplants since developing non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Things to note so far:
- Roundup®, the most widely used weed-killer in the world, has been declared a “probable human carcinogen” by the cancer-research agency of the World Health Organization from its use of glyphosate. Studies have linked Roundup® to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers.
- After their third defeat in court, Bayer, who recently bought Monsanto as a part of a $63-billion merger, released a statement that said they are “disappointed with the jury’s decision and will appeal the verdict.” They maintained that “glyphosate is not carcinogenic,” sighting the EPA’s conclusion that there are “no risks to public health from the current registered uses of glyphosate.”
- While conflicting research continues to confuse the conversations outside of the courtroom, the three trials so far seem to show that there is no such confusion for juries who have repeatedly found Monsanto guilty. And with 11,000 pending suits and possibly thousands of more cases that haven’t been brought forth yet, the momentum is against Monsanto.
- The next court date is set for August 19th of this year. Sharlean Gordon, the first of a group of 75 plaintiffs to go to trial, has had major health complications stemming from her non-Hodgkin Lymphoma that developed in 2006 after using the weed killer.
If you or a loved one were exposed to Roundup® and have since been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma or other cancer, you may be entitled to compensation. Click here for a free review of your case.
