Roundup™ Lawsuit Nets Over $2.5 Billion Verdict
The latest verdict in a Roundup™ lawsuit against Monsanto of more than $2.5 billion is the biggest yet. A jury in Alameda County agreed with the plaintiff’s attorney that Roundup™ caused Alva and Alberta Pilliod to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The couple, who reside in Livermore, California, were exposed to glyphosate for decades. After 17 days of testimony and two days of deliberations, the jury handed down their verdict. Bayer announced that it was disappointed with the jury’s conclusion and said they would appeal. They called the verdict in this Roundup™ lawsuit unjustifiable and excessive. Bayer went on to say that both plaintiffs suffered from past illnesses that could lead to the development of this type of lymphoma.
The Verdict in the Latest Roundup™ Lawsuit
Alberta Pilliod was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma brain cancer in 2015. Her husband, Alva Pilliod, was already diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the bone that spread to his spine and pelvic bones in 2011. The jury learned that the couple began to use Roundup™ in the 1970s and continued until recently. Both husband and wife were given $1 billion in punitive damages. In addition to this, the couple was awarded $55 million in compensatory damages. Compensatory damages recover financial loss due to medical expenses now and in the future, lost wages and other expenses.
For punitive damages to be awarded, the jury would need to find that the defendant acted in an egregious manner. This would include malice, fraud, or other heinous acts. Punitive damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer, not to compensate the plaintiff for financial loss due to the event.
Eroding Monsanto’s Believability
The strength of Monsanto’s argument that Roundup™ is safe to use and does not cause cancer has been chipped away. The company’s market value has shrunk by about 40 percent since the Johnson Roundup™ lawsuit verdict in August 2018. This occurred as more testimonies described the company as secretive and deceptive. There are now approximately 13,000 Roundup™ lawsuit cases against Monsanto with the next one slated to be heard in St. Louis, Missouri.
Alberta Pilliod asked why Monsanto had not included a warning label on their product affirming its cancer risk. If that was present, she stressed that the couple would not have used it. Evidence that has emerged includes:
- Monsanto never evaluated the cancer risk through the use of valid studies.
- The company never revealed that other constituents of the herbicide were even more toxic than glyphosate.
- Monsanto worked to delay an evaluation by the Environmental Protection Agency to determine the Roundup™ safety profile.
- By using their relationship with E.P.A. officials, Monsanto used the agency to back their version of Roundup™ toxicity.
- Monsanto funded ghostwritten articles that purported to tell the truth about Roundup™ safety.
Ghostwritten Roundup™ Safety Articles
Monsanto emails unveiled for the Roundup™ lawsuit depicted Monsanto’s efforts to hide the truth. They spent millions recruiting scientists to serve as co-authors on the articles. William Heydens, who was an executive at Monsanto, devised a way to save money and put false information in the public view. He decided that Monsanto would draft one paper that would talk favorably about Roundup™. The scientists would edit and claim authorship of the article. In the email, Heydens said that this was done in a former study on glyphosate safety. This trial is the first where abundant evidence of how Monsanto deliberately falsified reports to help them sell their product was brought to light. In the two previous trials, the judge prohibited the amount of evidence that could be presented to the jury.
Sacramento Roundup™ Cancer Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Roundup™ cancer attorney. If you developed cancer by using Roundup™, you have the right to obtain compensation for your financial loss and pain and suffering. It is deceptive for a company to lie about their product’s safety. It is unfair for consumers to pay for a company’s negligence. I would like to hear from you so we can discuss your case. Call me at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 if you are in California to obtain free and friendly advice. You can also reach out to me online if that is easier for you.
I’ve helped numerous clients who suffered a traumatic injury at the hands of another company or person.
I’ve belonged to many organizations since 1982 when I began to practice personal injury law, I am particularly proud of those listed below:
- The National Association of Distinguished Counsel. This organization grants membership to the top-tier of lawyers from around the country who apply legal excellence in their practice.
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum: This forum is composed of attorneys who have won more than $1 million for a client.
Learn about my practice on the following pages:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/justice-statue-lady-justice-2060093/
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