Sometimes a widely-used product has unusual and unpleasant results. For example, people who want to keep their plants healthy typically use chemicals to kills bugs and organisms that target the plants. Pest-fee plants look better, and crops might yield higher-quality produce. Unfortunately, consumers have made claims that herbicides with certain substances in them cause cancer. One such herbicide is called Roundup, and it’s become the source of a mass tort. Recently, Bayer agreed to settle Roundup cases.
What is Roundup?
It’s a weedkiller originally produced by Monsanto, an agrochemical company. Roundup later was purchased by Bayer, an international pharmaceutical and life sciences company.
One primary ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate. This chemical has been used in the United States since at least 1974 to kill certain plants, regulate growth, and ripen certain crops.
Allegations arose several years ago that glyphosate caused cancer, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. People filed suit against the makers of Roundup, and a recent settlement was announced. However, the decision to settle Roundup cases may not prove the substance is harmful. Some studies show that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic, while others could find no links between cancer and glyphosate.
Why did people sue Bayer?
Certain groups were more likely to be exposed, including:
- Groundskeepers
- Farmworkers
- Gardeners, even at-home gardeners
When another person or company’s actions harm someone, the injured party might have a personal injury claim. The Roundup mass tort claim’s purpose is to compensate people whose use of the product caused their damage.
As people who worked with Roundup began to get sick, they considered the glysophate in Roundup to be the culprit. Tens of thousands of victims filed cases against the makers of Roundup. The hope is that they will be compensated when the parties could finally settle the Roundup cases.
Bayer Agrees to Settle Roundup Cases
In previous cases, courts ordered Monsanto to pay compensatory and punitive damages to several victims. Currently, some cases are on appeal and are not included in the recent settlement.
To settle Roundup lawsuits that have already been filed, Bayer will pay from $8.8 billion to $9.6 billion. An additional $1.25 billion will be set aside to fund payouts for future claims.
It’s Not Easy to Settle Roundup Cases and Other Mass Torts
However, an attorney who has worked with personal injury cases can help analyze your case and decide on a course of action.