Monsanto Continues to Sell Roundup in California, Despite Evidence Suggesting Cancer Link

For decades, controversy has surrounded Roundup weed killer, one of the most widely-used pesticides in the world. Monsanto, the pesticide manufacturer, maintains that its product is perfectly safe. However, several scientific studies seem to suggest that Roundup isn’t safe. In fact, one recent study revealed that exposure to Roundup increases the risk of developing cancer by as much as 41 percent.

There may also be hard evidence to support these scientific studies. Many individuals claim to have developed cancer after being exposed to Roundup and its active ingredient, glyphosate. Despite this information, Monsanto continues to market and sell Roundup in California and other states across the country.

Companies Have an Obligation to Warn Consumers About Risks

When a company sells or markets a product in California, it has to make sure that the product is safe. In fact, under California state product liability laws, companies can be held strictly liable harm caused by defects in their products. In other words, a company doesn’t necessarily have to know that a product is dangerous or defective to be liable for a consumer’s injuries.

There are three main types of product defects: design, manufacturing, and marketing.

• Design Defect. A design defect exists when a product is dangerous because of the way it was designed. Is the product unnecessarily or unreasonably dangerous? Is there a reasonable and safer alternative for the product’s design? If so, a company may be liable for harm caused by a design defect.
• Manufacturing Defect. A manufacturing defect exists when a product is not manufactured according to its blueprints and design. In other words, there is an issue in the manufacturing process that prevents the product from being created as intended.
• Marketing Defect. A marketing defect exists when a product lacks necessary warnings of known or potential hazards, dangers, or risks.

Companies can also be liable if they knew or should have known that their product was unreasonably dangerous or carried any health risks. Consumers deserve to be fully informed before using a product. If a consumer isn’t made aware of risks associated with the use of a product, they can’t make an informed decision. As a result, their health and safety can be put in serious jeopardy.

Consumers injured by defective or dangerous products can file product liability lawsuits to recover compensation for harm they suffer.

Monsanto Facing More Than 11,000 Roundup Injury Lawsuits

After developing cancer and other health issues, many individuals decided to file product liability lawsuits against Monsanto. As of March 2019, the company has been named in more than 11,000 Roundup injury lawsuits.

The vast majority of these cases were initiated after Monsanto lost the first Roundup injury case to go to trial. There, a jury ordered the company to pay a California man $289 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

The jury believed that the man developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma after being exposed to the company’s controversial pesticide. It also believed that Monsanto concealed information about the health risks associated with glyphosate and failed to warn the man about those risks.

Another Roundup injury trial is currently underway. There, another California man sued the company after he also developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma after being exposed to Roundup weed killer. A similar result in this trial could force Monsanto’s hand and encourage them to settle other pending lawsuits.

Anyone injured because of Roundup exposure has the right to pursue compensation. It’s important to find an experienced personal injury lawyer to understand your legal options. Contact our legal team today to learn more.