The first phase of Edward Hardeman v. Monsanto Company unearthed groundbreaking news in favor of consumers’ claims that the popular weedkiller Roundup caused their non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After presented with a series of arguments and scientific evidence by Edward Hardeman’s attorneys, the jury sided with them that the California resident’s non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was caused by glyphosate in the herbicide.
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup and the world’s most heavily utilized herbicide, has been alleged as a human carcinogen, meaning that it can cause cancer. For decades scientific reports have supported the numerous and frequent claims of glyphosate’s health risks, but many companies who use glyphosate in their weedkillers refuse to acknowledge the viability of these reports. Monsanto, now owned by Bayer AG as of 2018, faces liability for the numerous claims against it and may encounter thousands of lawsuits in the U.S. for knowingly selling a product without disclosing the health risks of using it.
As the first federal bellwether trial to go to trial, Judge Vince Chhabria chose to separate Hardeman’s case into two, distinct phases in order for the jury to examine causation first before considering Monsanto’s liability and damages. At the conclusion of phase one, the jury took five days before deciding that, “yes”, Hardeman’s exposure to Roundup played a distinctive part in causing his cancer diagnosis.
During the trial 70-year-old Hardeman stated that he was regularly exposed to Roundup for over 30 years, using the weed-killing spray around his home. In 2016 he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, 4 years after he stopped using Roundup. He indicated that during the period of time that he used Roundup his skin regularly came into direct contact with the spray when the weed-killer containers leaked. He also said he breathed in the chemicals if the wind blew the spray back onto his body, and he typically sprayed Roundup for several hours a day.
The real question the case will address in the second phase of the trial is whether or not Monsanto knew the severe health risks caused by Roundup and still sold the product despite the facts. The second phase, the liability and damages phase, will determine whether Hardeman is entitled to be paid compensatory damages by Monsanto and whether or not Monsanto tried to cover up the health risks associated with Roundup. The results of this second phase could set the tone for the outcome of future Roundup lawsuits.
AVA LAW GROUP, INC. IS HERE FOR YOU
The overwhelming evidence pointing towards glyphosate as a carcinogen could mean legal compensation for you and your loved ones. Monsanto’s neglectful company practices should not be the result of your suffering. Contact AVA Law Group, Inc. to start your steps towards healing and justice. Sign up for our free case evaluation today!