Roundup Cancer Lawsuits
February 9, 2016 Last Updated on March 25, 2021
Important Information
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are no longer investigating this matter. The information here is for reference only. A list of open investigations and lawsuits can be viewed here.
Case Update
- March 25, 2021 – Attorneys Working with ClassAction.org No Longer Reviewing Roundup Claims
- Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are no longer reviewing claims on behalf of people who've developed cancer that they suspect may have been caused by Roundup. If you or a loved one is interested in pursuing legal action for a cancer diagnosis, please reach out to an attorney in your area; most offer free consultations. It’s important to act quickly, however, as the time frame for filing these claims is limited.
The information below is for reference only. Our open list of investigations can be found here.
At A Glance
- This Alert Affects:
- Anyone who used Roundup herbicide and was later diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- What's Going On?
- Thousands of lawsuits have been filed alleging that Roundup causes cancer and that people weren't properly warned of its risks. In June 2020, Bayer announced it would pay $10.9 billion to resolve many of these cases – and if you were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma because of your Roundup use, it’s not too late to file a claim and recover money for the harm you suffered.
- Can Roundup Really Cause Cancer?
- An agency of the World Health Organization has labeled glyphosate – the main ingredient in Roundup – as "probably carcinogenic."
Lawsuits have been filed alleging that the popular herbicide Roundup can cause cancer – and that the manufacturer didn’t do enough to warn people about the risk.
Bayer to Pay $10B To Resolve Roundup Claims
Bayer has announced that it will pay up to $10.9 billion to resolve approximately 100,000 claims alleging Monsanto’s Roundup causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma. According to the company, the settlement will put to rest 75 percent of the current litigation.
In February 2021, Bayer announced that it will pay an additional $2 billion to resolve future claims.
The deal was denied months later, however, with a judge finding that it was “clearly unreasonable” for those who haven’t been diagnosed with cancer yet. Judge Vince Chhabria noted, for instance, that the fund is only intended to last four years despite the fact that it could take a decade or longer for consumers who were exposed to Roundup to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The order denying the deal also brought up potential issues with the proposed program for publicizing the settlement, stating, for instance, that the class notices are “so garbled” most people are likely to ignore them. The day after the deal was denied, Bayer announced that it is considering removing glyphosate from its residential Roundup products.
What Are the Lawsuits Saying Monsanto Did Wrong?
The lawsuits allege that Monsanto led a “prolonged campaign of misinformation” to convince the public, agricultural workers and government agencies that Roundup was safe even though the main ingredient in the herbicide has been labeled “probably carcinogenic.”
Specifically, the suits claim that:
Monsanto concealed, downplayed and suppressed information about the risks of Roundup and instead aggressively marketed the herbicide as safe for humans and the environment
Monsanto “championed falsified data” while attacking legitimate studies linking Roundup to cancer
Monsanto made a conscious decision not to redesign its herbicide so that it was less dangerous to humans
Monsanto knew or should have known that its product could cause cancer, but failed to warn the public about this risk
Monsanto did not adequately monitor Roundup after placing the product on the market
In mid-2018, a San Francisco jury returned a $289 million verdict for a former school groundskeeper who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
How Could a Lawsuit Help?
Lawsuits could provide money for medical bills, lost wages and funeral expenses in the event of death. It’s important to keep in mind that Bayer’s settlement is to resolve individual cases – and is not a class action settlement. This means if you were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and are interested in taking legal action for monetary damages, you will need to file your own suit with your own attorney.
How Much Does an Attorney Cost?
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are handling these cases on a contingency-fee basis. This means that they will only be paid if they win your case and will take a percentage of your total award.
What Types of Cancers Have Been Linked to Roundup?
Glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, has been linked to:
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Lymphocytic lymphoma
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- B-cell lymphoma
- Burkitt lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Follicular lymphoma
- Skin lymphoma
- Peripheral T-cell lymphoma
- Hairy cell leukemia
- Mantle cell lymphoma
It is believed that gardeners, industrial farm workers, groundskeepers, independent farmers, professional turf managers, landscapers and other agricultural workers have been exposed to the highest levels of Roundup and are therefore at the greatest risk of developing cancer.
World Health Organization Comments on Cancer Link
In March 2015, an agency of the World Health Organization known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) issued an evaluation of several herbicides, including glyphosate. According to its research, the IARC found that glyphosate should be classified as a Group 2A herbicide – meaning that it is “probably carcinogenic” to humans. The IARC said that the cancers most commonly associated with glyphosate are non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other types of hematopoietic cancers, including multiple myeloma and acute and chronic leukemia.
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