As spring moves into summer people in New Mexico are planting their gardens and beginning the annual fight against weeds that threaten the beauty and health of those gardens. One of the most popular products in the country for controling weeds is a product called Roundup that contains an ingredient called glyphosate that many believe causes cancer. Monsanto, the parent company, claims its product is safe and that Monsanto bears no product liability responsibility. A number of lawsuits that have been decided against the company.
In the most recent case, a couple sued Monsanto after they were both diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The couple owned multiple properties and had used Roundup as part of their landscape maintenance routine for several years. They had no reason to believe it might be harming their health as there was no carcinogenic warning on the product label.
The couple’s lawsuit recently went to a jury, which awarded the couple $2 billion in punitive damages. Monsanto has said it will appeal. Glyphosate, the active ingredient that is the focus of concern, was recently investigated by the the Environmental Protection Agency, which found no reason to believe it was carcinogenic. That report does contradict a report from the World Health Organization, which found that glyphosate is likely carcinogenic.
Glyphosate is reportedly the most commonly used herbicide in the United States. People who have had contact with the chemical in New Mexico and have experienced adverse health events may wish to contact a personal injury attorney. A knowledgeable lawyer can review the facts of one’s case and help the client to determine if there are grounds for a product liability lawsuit.