A consumer recently filed a lawsuit against Monsanto, alleging that the company misled the public about glyphosate dangers and encouraged the use of Roundup despite knowing it may cause cancer.

Plaintiff Robert S. alleges he regularly sprayed Roundup starting in 2013 and was subsequently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He claims that his prolonged exposure to glyphosate dangers caused him to develop cancer.

Glyphosate is a broad spectrum herbicide and is the active ingredient in weed killers such as Roundup. The chemical is widely used across the country in on crops, lawns, parks, and more. As more crops have been developed to withstand the powerful herbicide, use increases. However, Robert claims that most of the public remains unaware of the glyphosate dangers they are exposed to by using Roundup products.

According to Robert’s Roundup lawsuit, Monsanto has been aware of glyphosate dangers since the 1980s. Numerous studies have allegedly shown that glyphosate is a toxic chemical, including a 1991 study which showed that Roundup and other “glyphosate formulations were significantly more toxic than glyphosate alone”.

In 2002, the first in a series of studies was published showing that glyphosate can cause cell cycle regulations, increasing the chance of mutation and the development. Further studies were published in following years, providing more evidence for the toxicity and carcinogenicity of glyphosate.

New evidence prompted a review of the chemical by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2015. After reviewing human, animal, and DNA studies, the IARC concluded that glyphosate was a Class 2A “probable carcinogen” due to the evidence that its related mechanisms could cause cancer in humans.

Despite this new classification, Monsanto allegedly continued to represent their products as safe, Robert says.

Monsanto allegedly has a history of misrepresenting glyphosate dangers. In 1996, the New York Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the company, challenging claims that Roundup was “safer than table salt” and “practically non-toxic”. The lawsuit was settled and Monsanto ceased such advertising in New York, but continued to make the allegedly false claims about glyphosate dangers in other states.

Hundreds of plaintiffs have since alleged that their exposure to glyphosate contributed to their development of cancer, particularly non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

In 2009, France’s highest court ruled that Monsanto had concealed glyphosate dangers. The ruling also affirmed an earlier judgement which found that Monsanto falsely advertised Roundup as “biodegradable”.

Robert claims that Monsanto misrepresents glyphosate dangers in order to protect the massive profits they gain from Roundup sales. Instead of being honest about glyphosate dangers in order to protect consumers, he claims Monsanto allegedly conceals the facts, suppresses the truth, and misrepresents their products as safe and non-toxic.

“Defendant knew or should have known that, in fact, said warranties were false, misleading, and untrue in that there is evidence that Roundup is toxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic and that scientists and/or regulatory authorities around the world are not in agreement that Roundup is not carcinogenic or genotoxic and that it is safe,” the glyphosate lawsuit claims.

The Roundup cancer lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, economic damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

The Roundup Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 4:18-cv-01404-AGF in the United States 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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