Roundup is a familiar label in American homes. Farmers, homeowners, and avid gardeners have used the glyphosate-based weed killer for decades to keep their lawns, gardens, and crops healthy. Its popularity has made it the most widely-used weed killer in the U.S. But over the years, disconcerting evidence has continued to mount about the link between Roundup and cancer.
In recent news, Bayer, the company that now produces Roundup, paid $10 billion to settle 95,000 lawsuits brought by people who say the product caused their cancer. In years prior, individuals have also successfully pursued lawsuits to hold the company accountable.
Buttafuoco & Associates is currently representing clients who have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and used Roundup in a mass litigation lawsuit. I will tell you more about how to know if you qualify for the lawsuit, and how a New York Roundup attorney can help, below.
The Roundup-Cancer Connection
Roundup has been on the market since 1974, but its popularity exploded among farmers in 1996 when its original producer Monsanto (recently acquired by Bayer) began engineering genetically modified seeds. The seeds made crops resistant to the deadly chemicals in Roundup, allowing farmers to spray the product and kill weeds without harming crops. Today, over 90 percent of all soybean and corn crops are grown from genetically modified seeds such as these.
Not only did this new technology save farmers significant time and effort when it came to keeping their crops healthy, but it drastically lowered their costs and boosted crop yields. Needless to say, it was incredibly popular among farmers from the get-go. As more and more crops were grown from genetically modified seeds, farmers also became more likely to use Roundup. Eventually, consumer interest was piqued, and people began using the product in their gardens and lawns to spot-treat weeds.
Once Roundup arrived on the market, however, researchers began to notice an ominous trend: non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases were on the rise. In studies, these cancer cases were linked to the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, and to glyphosate in particular, which is the ingredient found in Roundup.
After decades of concerns that Roundup was to blame for cancer among farmers and consumers, in 2015 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (which conducts research for the World Health Organization) officially announced that glyphosate was a probable cause of cancer. Today, the IARC has listed glyphosate more specifically as a probable cause of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The IARC report was based on studies dating back to 2001 indicating that there were higher reported incidences of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among people exposed to glyphosate, including farmers and forestry workers, compared to those who weren’t.
Monsanto Claimed Roundup Was Safe
The bigger issue that has led to lawsuits is that even when Monsanto became aware of the link between Roundup and cancer, they continued to market it as safe and keep it on the shelves. In the meantime, millions of Americans continued to use the product on their farms, lawns and gardens, or for their jobs in forestry departments, putting themselves at risk.
Today, thousands of lawsuits have been filed against Monsanto as part of a mass tort settlement. Similar to class action settlements, mass torts are for cases where a single source has caused harm to many people. A big difference between mass litigation lawsuits and class action suits, however, is that there are far more benefits for individuals within a mass tort. For one, settlements are significantly higher in mass tort lawsuits. This is because each individual case is investigated and placed in a tier that determines the amount the plaintiff can receive. In the case of Roundup, settlement amounts for individuals are determined by several factors, including the type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma the plaintiff developed, how old they were when diagnosed, the severity of their cancer, the extent of their treatment, and risk factors such as the level of herbicide exposure. Victims may be eligible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.
Another benefit is that mass torts settle more quickly than individual lawsuits because all cases are heard in a single court. Victims can receive their payments far faster.
While joining the mass tort is a reliable way to maximize compensation in a Roundup cancer lawsuit, it is key that you work with a lawyer you can trust. At Buttafuoco & Associates, we are seasoned in working on mass tort cases. We believe in holding these companies accountable for their reprehensible behavior and in recovering the maximum possible settlements for victims.
This means we take significant time to build the strongest possible case for each individual we work with and get them the maximum compensation you deserve. A cancer diagnosis can be devastating, and we offer compassionate and personalized legal support during this difficult time.
How Do I Know if I’m Eligible?
Eligibility for Roundup cancer cases is relatively straightforward. If you have medical records showing that you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and can show (through receipts or other evidence) that you were exposed to glyphosate at least one year prior to being diagnosed, you may be eligible to be part of the settlement.
Buttafuoco & Associates is committed to fighting corporate giants that recklessly endanger people’s lives, and will fight to deliver justice and help you recover what you are owed.
If you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and have used Roundup, contact a New York Roundup attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates today for a free review of your case.
Call 1-800-NOW-HURT today.
