While there are at least 4,000 plaintiffs that have filed suit against the maker of the popular herbicide Roundup, plaintiff DeWayne J.’s case will be the first to go to trial. The former groundskeeper alleges that glyphosate exposure from use of Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

According to an online article by The Guardian, DeWayne J., a 46-year-old California citizen, served the Benicia Unified School District for a three-year period from 2012 to 2015. His glyphosate exposure allegedly occurred through multiple applications of Roundup while maintaining the landscaping of properties owned by the school district.

DeWayne says he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma—an often deadly cancer characterized by the creation of too many white blood cells. According to the article, his personal doctor has previously certified that the plaintiff has but months to live.

DeWayne’s goal—despite being confined to his home from overall weakness and widespread body lesions—is to remain living long enough to see  Monsanto held responsible for the glyphosate exposure that allegedly led to his illness and for their purported campaign to suppress scientific data pointing to the carcinogenic nature of their herbicidal product.

DeWayne’s glyphosate exposure lawsuit was filed in San Francisco County Superior Court and will be the first to go to trial with the date set for June 18, 2018. A second lawsuit against Monsanto has been scheduled to go to trial in the state of Missouri in the month of October.

The Monsanto company has long touted that its popular Roundup herbicide is safe for humans to apply to prevent weeds and quick-growing grasses. They have also claimed that the product is ‘practically non-toxic’ to wildlife and marine creatures. These claims have been part of the company’s advertising campaigns for decades.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

The IARC—a division of the World Health Organization—spent a year analyzing data on glyphosate exposure. At the conclusion of this analysis in 2015, they made the determination that glyphosate—the active ingredient in Roundup—is a ‘probable human carcinogen’. Monsanto claims this analysis is wrong and leans on the support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which holds a view counter to that of IARC.

The immense body of litigants–most of whom have or have had loved ones that have suffered with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma—are out to prove that there are numerous indicators that the defendant knew the risks and dangers of glyphosate exposure all along.

According to the Guardian article, Judge Curtis Karnow paved the way for the jury to consider assessing punitive damages against Monsanto by issuing an order allowing jurors to evaluate potential evidence that they suppressed information or attempted to skew scientific data in their favor. The judge also is allowing the court to look at scientific information which might causally link glyphosate exposure with DeWayne’s cancer.

If you or a loved one developed cancer after using Roundup as a farm worker or home gardener, you may have a legal claim. Legal migrant farm workers may also seek help. Learn more by filling out the form on this page for a FREE case evaluation.

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