Roundup Claims and Lawsuits

The Monsanto company as well as its parent company, Bayer, currently face lawsuits from thousands of individuals who believe that the weed-killing chemicals in Roundup caused them to develop cancer. More than 13,000 people have filed lawsuits against Monsanto claiming that Roundup exposure caused them or a loved one to experience serious illnesses like non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or other types of cancer. If you or a family member was diagnosed with leukemia, myeloma, or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after Roundup exposure, it is often possible to pursue compensation for your losses through a product liability claim.

The victims of Roundup exposure often face substantial challenges including large medical bills, lost wages, and other financial hardships. Fortunately, an attorney at Gerson & Schwartz, PA can fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact our law office today by emailing info@gslawusa.com to schedule your free initial consultation.

What is Roundup?

The weedkiller, Roundup, is a widely-used herbicide that has been determined to cause cancer. Each year in the United States, approximately 250 million pounds of glyphosate, the chemical found in Roundup, is sprayed on our outdoor spaces. The Monsanto company introduced Roundup in 1974 after learning that glyphosate kills weeds by blocking proteins, which are critical to plant growth. In the 1980s, the Environmental Protection Agency began to believe that glyphosate causes cancer, but later reversed its decision based on a lack of convincing evidence. Until its Roundup patent expired in 2000, Monsanto had exclusive rights to the product.

The Connection Between Roundup and Cancer

Glyphosate has been categorized as "probably carcinogenic" in humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. This classification is based on evidence that glyphosate caused cancer in laboratory animals. The most serious side effect of exposure to glyphosate is several types of cancers, including b-cell lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, and non-hodgkin's lymphoma.

Some of the people who are at greatest risk of developing cancer include farmworkers and other individuals who are exposed to glyphosate while on the job, which can include people who work at garden centers or in landscaping.

Prior to a ban in Miami in 2019 on the use of Roundup anywhere in the city, documentation provided by public works showed that 4,800 gallons of glyphosate products were used to kill weeds on streets, gardens, and sidewalks in Miami each year. Some of the gardens in Miami where people were likely exposed to Roundup include:

• Flamingo Garden
• Miami Beach Botanical Garden
• Montgomery Botanical Center
• Pinecrest Garden

The Role of the Monsanto Papers

The Monsanto Papers are documents that the company made public during recent Roundup lawsuits. These documents established that Monsanto had knowledge about the dangers presented by Roundup. Some critical details revealed in these documents include:

• Monsanto authored documents falsely stating that its products were safe
• Monsanto created an allegedly "independent academic" website to discredit claims about the dangers presented by Roundup
• Monsanto gathered a team of scientists who promoted the safety of glyphosate

Learn More About Roundup Lawsuits

You might be eligible to pursue compensation from the manufacturer of Roundup if your glyphosate exposure has led to serious illness or injury. Consider the following:

• A history of Roundup exposure. The greater the frequency to which a person is exposed to Roundup, the more likely that the individual will later be diagnosed with cancer. Some of the people who use Roundup include those who use the product in an occupational setting like farmers, gardeners, groundskeepers, and landscapers.
• You have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. While glyphosate has been associated with various cancers, the type of cancer most commonly caused by this chemical is non-hodgkin's lymphoma. If you believe that you have any type of cancer, it is critical that you promptly see a medical professional who can evaluate your condition.
• Your condition caused your family to suffer. Cancer impacts almost every aspect of a person's life. Not only does an individual's health deteriorate, but it can also be difficult to perform many daily living tasks because people constantly feel sick and weak. Not only do cancer patients suffer, their loved ones often do, as well. Many times, cancer makes people too sick to work, which can end up creating financial hardships for their family. At the same time that people experience financial difficulty, they also often are accumulating large medical bills due to cancer treatment.

Types of Roundup Legal Actions

Many of the Roundup legal actions that have been filed to date are individual lawsuits. Several class-action lawsuits have also been filed against Monsanto. Class-action lawsuits are different in several ways from individual lawsuits. As part of a class-action lawsuit, one plaintiff represents a group of plaintiffs who suffer from the same injury. If the representative in the class-action prevails, everyone else in the class-action also receives compensation.

Statute of Limitations in Roundup Lawsuits

Florida has laws that prevent individuals from pursuing lawsuits if a certain period of time has elapsed. For this reason, it is a good idea to act quickly when initiating Roundup lawsuits. In Florida, a person has four years from the date of harm in which to file a personal injury lawsuit and two years in which to file a wrongful death lawsuit. If the statute of limitations has lapsed, a person will likely be barred from filing a Roundup lawsuit.

Speak with an Experienced Defective Product Attorney

At Gerson & Schwartz, PA, we have years of experience fighting for the results that people harmed by Roundup and other dangerous products deserve. We have the knowledge and skills necessary to create a strong legal strategy so that you can pursue the compensation you need for your losses. Contact our law office today to schedule a free case evaluation.

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