Dwayne Johnson, 46, sued Monsanto at the Superior Court of California, alleging that the popular weed killer Roundup gave him terminal cancer. Johnson applied Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer 20 to 30 times per year while working as a groundskeeper for a school district near San Francisco. He testified at trial that while using the product he had two prior incidents in which he was soaked with the product. In 2014, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The suit alleged that harmful contact with Monsanto’s product caused the underlying cancer. After three days of deliberations, the San Francisco jury awarded Johnson about $39 million in compensatory damages and $250 million in punitive damages.
A few years ago, the World Health Organization Agency for Research and Cancer (IARC) said the key ingredient in the Roundup weed killer, glyphosate, is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Monsanto has long maintained that Roundup does not cause cancer and that the IARC report is outnumbered by conflicting studies that suggest glyphosate is safe. After the verdict, Monsanto stated they will appeal this decision, and they stand by these studies that say Roundup does not cause cancer.
Dwayne Johnson’s victory could set a massive precedent for thousands of other cases claiming Monsanto’s Roundup causes cancer, specifically non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Last year, CNN reported that more than 800 patients were suing Monsanto for the same reason. Since then, hundreds of more plaintiffs have sued Monsanto making similar claims, including cancer patients, spouses, and their estates.
If you or someone you know has been affected by using a dangerous product, it is important to find a skilled law firm with experience handling these cases to ensure that companies are held fully accountable. The law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner is the oldest personal injury firm in Texas, and our attorneys are standing by to assist with your claim. Call us today at (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211 for your free consultation.