Roundup Lawsuit: A Comprehensive Overview

Eligibility for Victims and Legal Procedures

If you or someone close to you has worked in agriculture—as a farmer, landscaper, or agricultural laborer—and has frequently used Roundup weed killer, you could be in line for legal action.

Am I Eligible to File a Roundup Lawsuit?

Specifically, you might qualify for a lawsuit if you’ve been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or similar medical conditions. While many have already received their settlements, new payouts are anticipated to be made in 2023.

Here’s a simple checklist to see if you could be eligible for a Roundup lawsuit:

• Exposure: You’ve used Roundup extensively or were exposed to a significant amount, particularly if this happened when you were 12 years old or younger.
• Diagnosis: You were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another qualifying cancer after June 1, 2018.
• Time Limit: The legal time limit, known as the “statute of limitations,” to file a lawsuit in your state hasn’t expired.

Some people have chosen to file their own lawsuits, seeking compensation specifically for their health conditions resulting from Roundup exposure. Meanwhile, others have joined class-action claims to get reimbursed for the cost of Roundup products they purchased.

With Monsanto/Bayer setting aside more than $10 billion to settle around 100,000 cases, covering approximately 80% of lawsuits, there’s still room for new claims. Roundup lawyers are continuing to accept new clients.

If you think you meet these criteria, you may have a valid case and should consider consulting a legal professional for the next steps.

Steps to File a Roundup Lawsuit

These are the steps to file a Roundup lawsuit:

1. Consult a healthcare provider: Seek medical advice for proper diagnosis and treatment of any health issues you believe are related to Roundup exposure.
2. Document evidence: Collect all relevant evidence, such as medical records, purchase receipts, and photographs of the product or affected area.
3. Consult an attorney: Contact a lawyer experienced in product liability or personal injury law to discuss the details of your case.
4. Case evaluation: Your attorney will evaluate the evidence to determine if you have a viable lawsuit.
5. File a complaint: If your case is deemed viable, your attorney will file a legal complaint against the responsible parties, usually the manufacturer of Roundup.

Potential Compensation and Settlements

The payout for a Roundup weed killer lawsuit is between $5,000 and $250,000. The exact amount will depend on the injuries sustained by the claimant.

EPA-Ordered Examination of Glyphosate Health Risks

In late 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assembled a group of experts to assess the potential health risks associated with using glyphosate, a common herbicide.

Topics: Roundup Legal Cases, 2023 Updates on Roundup Lawsuits, Roundup and Cancer, Why is Roundup Considered Harmful?, What is Glyphosate, Why Does the EPA View Glyphosate as Safe, EPA’s Required Glyphosate Safety Review

The expert group was made up of 15 specialists from various fields, including:

• University scholars
• Government scientists specializing in law
• Advisors from the chemical sector

Ongoing legal cases did not trigger this assessment. Instead, the EPA must reevaluate all pesticides’ safety every 15 years.

The last time glyphosate had undergone such a review was in 1991. At that time, the agency concluded that the chemical was not a risk to the public.

Interestingly, the 2016 meeting commenced with Jack Housenger, the head of the EPA’s Office of Pesticides Programs, presenting a comprehensive 227-page report arguing that glyphosate was unlikely to be cancer-causing.

He then asked the panel to evaluate the report. Many of the experts on the panel had reservations about the EPA’s conclusions.

During the meeting, Eric Johnson, an epidemiologist from the University of Arkansas, voiced his apprehensions. He argued that if any research indicated a link between glyphosate and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, the EPA was quick to downplay the results, citing supposed study weaknesses.

Lianne Sheppard, a biostatistician from the University of Washington-Seattle, stated that there was a general agreement among panel members that the evidence presented did not align with the conclusions in the report, especially when evaluated against certain guidelines.

Some experts even questioned the impartiality and competence of the Office of Pesticides Programs.

Notably, nearly a third of this office’s operating budget in 2016 came from the pesticide manufacturing industry. Much of the data they use for evaluation comes from studies performed by these same manufacturers.

Following the meeting, the EPA made the issue paper publicly available. Legally, they were obligated to include any objections or concerns raised by the panel members.

However, the EPA minimized the gravity of these concerns in the public document.

Legal Defense Concerning Roundup

Monsanto/Bayer has enlisted Dr. Donna Farmer as their spokesperson in the ongoing legal battles surrounding Roundup. A veteran chemical researcher with over two decades of experience at Monsanto, Dr. Farmer strongly disputes the recent claims linking the herbicide to cancer risks. She criticizes the World Health Organization (WHO) for what she perceives as the selective use of data and differing interpretations of scientific studies compared to the original researchers. While she may be sincere in her beliefs, she is not supported by the majority opinion.

Dr. Farmer argues that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is designed to inhibit a specific enzyme found only in plants, not in humans or animals. She claims that her extensive research confirms the herbicide’s safety and finds no link to cancer.

However, juries involved in these cases have largely been unconvinced by Dr. Farmer’s rationale, which is also endorsed by other experts during the trials. They have predominantly ruled against the arguments she has put forward.