North Dakota Roundup Cancer Lawyers

Fighting for clients injured after using Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer for decades

That almost ubiquitous bottle of Roundup that can be found in the home garages, toolsheds, and storage rooms all over North Dakota. With three recent groundbreaking verdicts in favor of plaintiffs who complained that using Roundup gave them cancer, there are thousands of other lawsuits being prepared to be tried against Bayer/Monsanto. If you have spent years using Roundup on your lawn, your farm, or your garden, and you have been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, you may have grounds for a lawsuit against the manufacturer.

The experienced North Dakota product liability lawyers at the Larson Law Firm, P.C. have been helping clients obtain justice for more than 40 years. We have a client-oriented approach to providing legal services, and we are ready to fight to protect your interests. To learn more about our services, please schedule a free consultation at our office in Minot or Bismarck today.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup

Roundup is the brand name of a weed killer manufactured and sold by Monsanto, which was recently acquired by Bayer. Roundup has been the most used weed killer in human history since Monsanto introduced it in the 1970s. The active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate: a chemical used in herbicides in agriculture, forestry, on lawns and gardens to kill weeds. It is a non-selective herbicide which works by preventing the plant from making the proteins they need to grow. (NPIC)

According to the U.S Geological Survey, more than 288 million pounds of glyphosate was sprayed on U.S. crops in 2016, and in 2014, enough glyphosate was used to spray more than three-quarters of a pound on every acre of harvested land in the United States.

What is the link between Roundup use and cancer?

The history of the link between Roundup (glyphosate) and cancer is complicated.

What various agencies have said about Roundup and cancer

In 1985, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified glyphosate as a Group C chemical that was possibly carcinogenic to humans, but after a re-evaluation of research data in 1991, the EPA re-evaluated its findings and re-classified glyphosate as a Class E chemical, with no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer in humans.

But 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reported that glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic to humans” in 2015.  In 2017, California added glyphosate to its list of cancer-causing chemicals.

Then, in April 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that they have found “no risks to public health from the current registered uses of glyphosate.”

What the scientific research now proves about the link between Roundup and cancer

Researchers from the University of Washington published a report which revealed that agricultural workers had a 41% higher risk of contracting non-Hodgkin lymphoma due to their use of glyphosate that people who used it infrequently or not at all.

PBS.org reported that, according to a UW study that analyzed exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides and risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, “On average, about 2 out of every 100 Americans develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma. For people who are highly exposed to glyphosate, the disease rate jumps to 2.8 per 100. That means they still have a relatively small chance of contracting the disease, but their risk is substantially higher because of glyphosate use.”

What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer that starts in the white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system. Lymphoma affects the lymphatic system, which is the aspect of the body’s immune system that wards off infections and diseases. Lymphomas can start in areas of the body where there are lymph tissues, such as:

  • Lymph nodes
  • Spleen
  • Bone marrow
  • Thymus
  • Adenoids and tonsils
  • Digestive tract

The Mayo Clinic offers the following as possible risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma:

  • Medications that suppress the immune system
  • Infection with certain viruses and bacteria
  • Chemical exposure
  • Older age

Should I file a lawsuit against Monsanto for injuries from Roundup?

Given Roundup’s effectiveness at killing the weeds that threaten crop production, landscaping, and any other agricultural purpose, people who work in those professions may be at greater risk of having had ongoing exposure to Roundup. Some of the occupations that might have a greater risk of their cancer having been caused by exposure to Roundup include:

  • Agricultural workers
  • Groundskeepers
  • Farmers
  • Landscapers
  • Anyone who regularly applies herbicide

North Dakota farmers have a high risk of exposure to Roundup

Successful verdicts against Monsanto/Bayer in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma trials

The following are just three of the recent verdicts that have been awarded to people who claimed that their non-Hodgkin Lymphoma was a result of exposure to Roundup herbicide:

  • In August 2018, a groundskeeper who was diagnosed with terminal cancer for which he holds Roundup responsible, received an initial $289 million verdict.
  • In March 2019, a jury awarded $80 million to a man who claims his non-Hodgkin lymphoma was caused by exposure to Roundup.
  • In May 2019, another jury awarded $2 billion to a couple who blame their cancer diagnoses on exposure to Roundup.

There are hundreds if not thousands of other people who have worked in the agriculture industry, or who have used Roundup at home believing it was safe who have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and who are suing Bayer/Monsanto for damages.

How can a North Dakota product liability lawyer help my injury case?

As you might imagine, Roundup cancer injury cases are incredibly complex. A person usually has decades of exposure to Roundup before they would begin to experience symptoms or receive a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Also, there are other causes for this type of cancer. Researchers have been studying the link between glyphosate and several forms of cancer however this research is new and developing in real time.

What is promising is that there have been three successful verdicts which proved the causal connection between the repeated use of Roundup and the diagnosis of cancer. If you or a loved one believes that your cancer was a result of exposure to Roundup, the trusted North Dakota Roundup cancer lawyers at the Larson Law Firm are ready to represent you.

Our North Dakota product liability lawyers can help you by reviewing your medical records and gathering other evidence that will strengthen your case. We will fight for your right to recover compensation for your injuries.

What damages are available in a Roundup cancer injury case?

A plaintiff would be required to prove that their cancer was caused by ongoing exposure to Roundup. The following types of damages may be available depending on the individual facts of the case:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Wrongful death
  • Other losses

Roundup is a product that many people in North Dakota have used every growing season for decades because of its effectiveness, and the fact that it has been marketed as being safe for both humans and animals. If you have been exposed to Roundup weed killer and you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, you may wish to consult with an experienced North Dakota Roundup cancer lawyer who will review your case and help you determine the next steps to take.

Schedule a free consultation with a North Dakota Roundup cancer lawyer today

The North Dakota Roundup cancer lawyers of Larson Law Firm P.C. are ready to represent you and fight for fair compensation for you. Contact us to schedule a free initial consultation by filling out our contact form or calling 701-484-4878. From our offices in Minot and Bismarck, we provide honest representation for clients throughout the state.