Roundup (Glyphosate) Cancer Cases: Key Documents & Analysis

More than 11,000 people have filed suit against Monsanto Company (now Bayer) alleging that exposure to Roundup herbicide caused them or their loved ones to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and that Monsanto covered up the risks. As part of the discovery process, Monsanto has had to turn over millions of pages of its internal records. We are posting these Monsanto Papers as they become available here. 

FEDERAL COURT – More than 760 lawsuits are pending in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. The cases have been combined for handling as multidistrict litigation (MDL) under Judge Vince Chhabria. The lead case is 3:16-md-02741-VC and the first trial, the case of Edwin Hardeman V. Monsanto, began Feb. 25, 2019. The judge approved a motion by Monsanto to bifurcate the trial, limiting evidence jurors will hear during a first phase to causation only. Update March 19: a unanimous jury decision handed a first-round victory to plaintiff Edwin Hardeman, as the six jury members found that Hardeman’s exposure to Roundup was a “substantial factor” in causing his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 

Follow trial updates in our #RoundupTrial Tracker.

Court / discovery documents are posted here: Edwin Hardeman V. Monsanto

Click here for additional documents pertaining to combined MDL cases

STATE COURT – Thousands of plaintiffs have made similar claims against Monsanto in state courts. The first trial in the Roundup litigation concluded on Aug. 10 with the jury ruling that Monsanto’s weedkiller was a substantial contributing factor in causing DeWayne “Lee” Johnson’s cancer, and ordering Monsanto to pay $289.25 million in damages, including $250 million in punitive damages. The judge reduced the punitive damages to $39 million in an order dated Oct. 22, 2018 which put the total verdict at approximately $78 million. Monsanto declared it would appeal and Johnson has cross appealed, seeking to reinstate the jury award.The appeal is filed in the California State Court of Appeals, case number A155940. Appellant’s opening brief due April 22, 2019.

The next case to go to trial has been rescheduled from March 18 toMarch 28, with jury selection beginning March 25, 2019 in Oakland, California. See details below in state court documents:

• DeWayne Johnson v. Monsanto: San Francisco County Superior Court /California State Court of Appeals
• Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding (JCCP): Alameda County Superior Court – California
• Pilliod, et al. v. Monsanto et. al.: Alameda County Superior Court – California Trial starts March 28, 2019
• Cazier v. Monsanto:18th Judicial District Court Gallatin County– Montana
• Ronald Peterson and Jeff Hall v. Monsanto: St. Louis Circuit Court — Missouri