A man has filed a lawsuit against Monsanto, maker of the glyphosate herbicide more commonly known as Roundup. His lawsuit is filed in Missouri federal court and alleges that he developed glyphosate cancer as a result of using the chemical.

Plaintiff Richard M. states that the chemical weed killer is “defective, dangerous to human health, unfit and unsuitable to be marketed and sold in commerce, and lacked proper warnings and directions as to the dangers associated with its use.” His lawsuit joins numerous others alleging personal injuries caused by the product.

Robert was exposed to glyphosate during his employment at a garden center, the glyphosate cancer lawsuit states. “As a direct and proximate result of being exposed to Roundup, Plaintiff developed non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (“NHL”), specifically diffuse large B-cell lymphoma which was diagnosed for the first time on May 12, 2002.”

Monsanto, a St. Louis, Mo.-based agricultural biotechnology corporation is the world’s leading producer of glyphosate. The chemical was developed in the 1970s and was distributed as a broad-spectrum herbicide use to kill weeds and grasses. It is non-selective in nature and kills weeds indiscriminately, affecting the shikimic pathway of plants, leading to their death.

Yearly, 250 million pounds of glyphosate are sprayed and have given rise to genetically engineered crops designed to withstand glyphosate’s activity. Genetically modified seeds have also been developed by Monsanto and are marketed as “Roundup Ready.”

Most corn, cotton and soy grown in the U.S. are developed from Roundup Ready genetically modified seeds. This allows large quantities of glyphosate to be sprayed on these genetically engineered crops without harming the crops. For years, Monsanto has maintained that glyphosate is not a threat to human health, but recently, new research and statements by international health organizations have said otherwise.

The glyphosate cancer lawsuit states that in 1996, the New York Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Monsanto for its marketing that was deemed false and misleading. In response to the lawsuit, Monsanto agreed to stop publishing or broadcasting advertisements in New York about the apparent safety of the chemical. However, Monsanto continued its similar marketing in all states outside of New York.

The lawsuit alleges that “[a]s early as the 1980s, Monsanto was aware of glyphosate’s carcinogenic properties,” and despite this long-standing knowledge, the company has continued to market its products.

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a division of the World Health Organization of the United Nations, determined that glyphosate is a class 2A probable carcinogen. This official determination has led to a slew of lawsuits filed by individuals who were able to connect that their glyphosate cancer was associated with their use of the chemical in their employment or personal use.

Robert states that he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma on May 12, 2002 but did not find out about the glyphosate cancer link until more than a decade later. As a result, Robert has brought forth claims against Monsanto including negligence, strict products liability for design defect and failure to warn and breach of implied warranties.

Robert is seeking judgment against Monsanto and awards of compensatory damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses, and lost earnings, punitive and/or exemplary damages, pre-and post-judgment interest, attorneys’ fees and costs and any additional relief deemed just and proper by the court.

The Glyphosate Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 4:17-ev02173, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

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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