Monsanto Co. was recently slammed by an Oakland jury that ruled the company must pay $2 billion dollars in total punitive damages to plaintiffs who sued after prolonged use of Roundup weedkiller caused them to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a rare form of cancer. In particular, the jury ruled $1 billion in punitive damages be paid to Alva Pilliod and another $1 billion to Alberta Pilliod, in addition to economic and noneconomic damages in the millions. Monsanto has been accused of knowing the dangers of its products for decades. It is expected that Monsanto will appeal the verdict amount and fight to have it lessened or reversed.
The Pilliod family said they sprayed their property with Roundup weedkiller as directed. When both Alva and Alberta were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, it was suspected that a single source could be the cause. NHL is typically a rare form of cancer characterized by cancer growths in the lymph nodes. The Pilliod trial began in late March 2019, taking more than a month to reach a conclusion.
This marks the third jury trial that concluded the common herbicide Roundup was carcinogenic and that Monsanto failed to warn or protect consumers. Last year, two separate trials ended with multimillion dollar verdict awards for plaintiffs who also alleged Roundup caused their cancer.
As with the other trials, Monsanto has steadfastly denied that their weedkiller products cause non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or other cancers. The company has contended that NHL has “no known cause” and that glyphosate has not been conclusively linked to the cancer. Despite Monsanto’s protests, jurors have clearly been unconvinced and believe the scientific evidence brought forth by plaintiff legal teams add up. With consecutive victories for plaintiffs, future case successes only become all the more likely.
You can learn more about the recent conclusion of the Pilloid and Monsanto case by clicking here and viewing a full article from The Recorder. If you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Roundup weedkiller, call (888) 398-2277 to connect with Bertram & Graf, L.L.C. in Kansas City. Our attorneys have been hearing from people in Kansas City and the surrounding area to help determine if they have a valid claim against Monsanto for knowingly selling a carcinogenic product. We would be honored to help you as well. Contact us today to begin.