The popular weed killer Roundup is at the heart of one of the most active mass tort lawsuits in the U.S. With thousands of cases pending and surprising decisions made by the defendant – the giant Bayer – many plaintiffs are wondering exactly what the status of Roundup lawsuits is at the present.
The mass tort lawyers at Rueb Stoller Daniel looked over the most significant recent developments and prepared a summary of this large scale litigation. But first, let us share a short summary of the case.
What Is the Roundup Lawsuit About?
Roundup is an herbicide initially produced by Monsanto, which was later acquired by Bayer. The main ingredient in this weed killer is glyphosate, which was linked with the onset of cancer.
Plaintiffs argue that the producer failed to warn them of this risk and, as a result of long term use of Roundup, they developed various types of cancer, especially non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia.
The Most Recent Estimate on Roundup Lawsuits
As of March 2024, it is estimated that there are 54,000 active lawsuits all over the U.S. This is a conservative number and it was calculated after Bayer has already settled nearly 100,000 lawsuits.
The areas with the largest number of cases at the present are:
- California
- Pennsylvania
- Missouri
However, there is an increasing number of lawsuits being filed in New Jersey and this is one of the major updates we will discuss in this article.
Let us begin with the most important events starting with the beginning of 2024.
January 2024: One of the Largest Jury Awards Is Announced
The trial of McKivision v. Monsanto started in Philadelphia on January 9 and by January 26 the jury came back with the verdict. They awarded the plaintiff $250 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages – in total, $2.25 billion.
The plaintiff, 49-year-old John McKivision was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using Roundup on his property for 20 years.
This is the second largest settlement, after the $3.6 billion jury award granted to Kelly Martel in December 2023, also in Philadelphia.
February 2024: Pennsylvania Judge Increases Award in a Case
A Philadelphia judge decided to increase the jury award granted to Ernest Caranci from $175 million to $177.3 million. The $2.3 million increase is justified by the rate of prejudgment interest applicable to personal injury lawsuits in Pennsylvania – 6%. This percentage is applicable to the amount awarded by the jury from the moment of filing the lawsuit and until the jury returns the verdict.
The judge in this case also dismissed the defendant’s request for a new trial, stating that “aggressively blaming the court and the plaintiff’s counsel” is not a valid reason for such a request.
March 1, 2024: Possible Consolidation of Roundup Lawsuits in New Jersey
Attorneys representing plaintiffs in Roundup lawsuits in New Jersey filed a petition with the Administrative Director of Courts to group the cases into a multi-county litigation. If approved, the cases will be tried in Atlantic County, using the same bellwether trial system applicable to multidistrict litigations.
March 14, 2024: Bayer Hints at Possible Bankruptcy
An article initially published by Bloomberg states that the company Bayer may resort to a two-step bankruptcy in order to resolve the remaining tens of thousands of active lawsuits. However, this complex legal maneuver is not likely to succeed in mass tort lawsuits.
Giants 3M & Co. and Johnson & Johnson, also named defendants in mass tort lawsuits, attempted to file for bankruptcy, but the movement was blocked by the court.
It Is Not Too Late to Seek Justice – Contact a Skilled Mass Tort Lawyer Today!
Although hundreds of thousands of cases were settled and other 50,000 Roundup lawsuits are active, it does not mean that the litigation is nearly over. On the contrary – lawsuits are being filed every day, so you should talk to a mass tort lawyer at Rueb Stoller Daniel.
If you developed cancer as a result of using Roundup, you may have the right to seek compensatory and punitive damages. We encourage you to reach out to us and schedule a free case review at 1-866-CALL-RSD!
