Roundup is a weed killer that has been the subject of many lawsuits. Roundup is sold on the shelves of home and garden stores and used by hobbyists. The active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate, a herbicide that kills weeds and grasses. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains that there are no risks to human health if users follow instructions while applying glyphosate, yet multiple studies have suggested otherwise. One analysis found that glyphosate exposure increases cancer risk by a staggering 41%. Along with cancer, Roundup can affect the reproductive system and cause thyroid problems. People began to file Roundup lawsuits against the manufacturer Monsanto in recent years, saying that they were diagnosed with cancer after long-term glyphosate use. 

In 2018, pharmaceutical company Bayer acquired Monsanto, thereby inheriting Monsanto’s Roundup litigation liability. Two years ago, Bayer set aside $10 billion to settle thousands of Roundup lawsuits. The pharmaceutical giant has requested that the U.S. Supreme Court stop the lawsuits, alleging that there’s no scientific consensus that Roundup causes cancer and that the sizable punitive damages plaintiffs have been awarded are unconstitutional. To-date, the Court has declined to intervene. An estimated 120,000 people have sued Bayer, and the lawsuits have been consolidated into multi-district litigation (MDL). Some plaintiffs have seen substantial awards; one California couple was awarded $87 million at a jury trial. Several trials are scheduled over the coming years. Bayer plans to stop selling Roundup as currently formulated for residential use by the end of 2023.

If you’ve developed cancer after using Roundup, you should talk to a Saddle Rock Legal Group attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.