Roundup, the widely used herbicide developed by Monsanto and later acquired by Bayer AG, has become the center of one of the most contentious and costly legal battles in recent history. This blog will outline the timeline of Roundup litigation milestones, providing a comprehensive look at its legal history—from the first lawsuits to billion-dollar settlements.
The Origins of Roundup and Early Concerns
1974: Roundup Launches Monsanto introduces Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide, to the agricultural market. It is heralded as a game-changer for weed control, rapidly gaining popularity among farmers and home gardeners.
1985: EPA Classification The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) temporarily classifies glyphosate as a possible human carcinogen based on studies showing tumors in mice. However, this classification is later reversed following additional reviews.
The First Lawsuits Emerge
2015: IARC Classification The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization, classifies glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” based on limited evidence linking it to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in humans and sufficient evidence in animal studies. This classification ignites public concern and paves the way for legal actions.
2016: First Roundup Lawsuits Filed Lawsuits begin to surface, with plaintiffs alleging that Roundup caused their non-Hodgkin lymphoma and that Monsanto failed to warn users about the potential risks. The central argument revolves around whether glyphosate and its formulations are carcinogenic.
Landmark Cases and Major Verdicts
2018: The Johnson Case In the first Roundup case to go to trial, a California jury awards $289 million to Dewayne Johnson, a former school groundskeeper diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The court finds Monsanto liable for failing to warn consumers about Roundup’s cancer risks. Although the award is later reduced to $78 million, the case sets a precedent for future litigation.
2019: Hardeman and Pilliod Cases
- Hardeman v. Monsanto: Edwin Hardeman, diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, wins an $80 million verdict. This case becomes the first federal bellwether trial, testing the strength of the lawsuits in multidistrict litigation (MDL).
- Pilliod v. Monsanto: Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a married couple both diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, are awarded $2 billion in damages, later reduced to $86.7 million. This case underscores the growing public scrutiny of Monsanto’s conduct.
