Hotze Runkle PLLC > Practice Areas > Roundup Lawsuits

Roundup Lawsuit Lawyers

Roundup weed killer contains a carcinogen that can lead to a range of cancers. If you used Roundup and developed cancer, Hotze Runkle PLLC might be able to help you recover compensation for your damages.

When you get cancer, you have to pay expensive medical bills and take time away from work for treatment. It’s not only frightening to be facing a serious illness, it’s disruptive to your life and causes a great deal of stress for you and your loved ones. To alleviate the financial and emotional strain, many victims are filing lawsuits against Monsanto (now Bayer), the manufacturer of Roundup.

The experienced Roundup attorneys at Hotze Runkle PLLC are not afraid to take on the large manufacturers who place their profits above the safety of their consumers. We have the resources to develop a strong case on your behalf and win the compensation you deserve so that you can focus on your health and your family.

Contact us today to learn about your rights and options. Call us at (877) 919-0830 to schedule a free consultation.

What Is Roundup?

Roundup is an herbicide made with the active ingredient glyphosate. Farmers, maintenance workers, gardeners, agricultural workers, and many others use it to kill weeds on their property. It’s proven effective against most plant types, most commonly broadleaf plants and grasses. The chemical can also regulate plant growth and ripen crops.

Monsanto started marketing Roundup in the 1970s and consistently denied claims that it causes cancer. One of the advertisements even compared it to table salt and stated that it’s safer.

Glyphosate has become one of the most popular herbicides today. However, in studies performed on mice, researchers found a direct link between tumor growth and the glyphosate chemical. Then in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer indicated that glyphosate was likely carcinogenic to humans.

Unfortunately, there are hundreds of products that contain glyphosate throughout the country. In addition to Roundup, there are other brands of weed killers on the market that are pretty popular.

  • Accord
  • Honcho
  • Pondmaster
  • Protocol
  • Rascal
  • Roundup Pro and Roundup Ultra

Does Exposure to Glyphosate in Roundup Cause Cancer?

In February 2019, there was a study that found glyphosate exposure raises cancer risk by 41%. This study, along with many others, found a link between the chemical herbicide and an increase in the risk of developing non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which is an aggressive form of cancer.

Exposure can occur through inhalation or direct contact with the skin. When that happens, different forms of lymphoma and other cancers end up developing. The types of cancer victims of Roundup glyphosate exposure may have include:

  • non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
  • T-Cell Lymphoma
  • B-Cell Lymphoma
  • Lung cancer
  • Leukemia
  • Breast cancer
  • Brain cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Multiple Myeloma

It can also lead to various health issues, such as:

  • Birth defects
  • ADHD
  • Depression
  • Liver disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Colitis
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Diabetes
  • IBS
  • Reproductive problems
  • Chronic kidney disease

Who Should File a Roundup Lawsuit?

If you’re unsure whether you qualify for a lawsuit, you should consider the following circumstances:

  1. You had consistent exposure to Roundup weed killer. The more exposure there was, the higher risk of cancer you have. People in the following professions have the most exposure to the toxic Roundup chemical:
    • Farmer
    • Landscaper
    • Professional gardener
    • Agriculture worker
    • Groundskeeper
    • Herbicide and pesticide applicator
  2. A doctor diagnosed you with non-Hodgkins lymphoma or another type of cancer.
  3. Your condition is affecting your family.

Cancer doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed with it. It can also hurt loved ones. You might be in pain and suffering from the side effects of chemo, but your family is also struggling. If you’re the breadwinner and haven’t been able to work, you might have trouble putting food on the table for your family. You and your family deserve compensation for the trauma you’re experiencing.

Can I File a Lawsuit Without a Lawyer?

The short answer: yes. However, you’ll probably struggle a lot more than if you hire an experienced roundup lawsuit lawyer to help you. Litigation lawyers know the strict deadlines and legal process they must follow to ensure their client receives the maximum financial award available. If you’re not familiar with lawsuits, the opposing party will take advantage of you.

You need a reputable law firm like Hotze Runkle PLLC on your side, so nothing falls through the cracks. We will work to protect your rights, make sure the other parties treat you fairly, and get you the compensation you need to pay for your expenses.

Our roundup lawsuit lawyers understand the obstacles you’re facing. You trusted a product that resulted in a cancer diagnosis, and it’s completely unfair. You shouldn’t have to pay for the mistakes someone else made. Monsanto was negligent in warning consumers about the dangers of their product and should pay for the consequences.

The Elements of Product Liability

Product liability is a case type concerning a defective or dangerous product that causes injury to the user. There are laws that dictate who is responsible for those defective or dangerous products and how the victim can recover damages.

When a manufacturer or seller provides a defective product to a consumer, they can be held liable for any resulting physical or emotional harm. Products are supposed to meet the consumer’s expectations and come with adequate warnings if it can cause any adverse effects.

If you choose to center your lawsuit around the theory of liability, you must prove that the product that caused your injury had a defect and that it was dangerous. There are three defects that can lead to an injury: design, manufacturing, and marketing.

Design Defect: A defect that exists in the product from the beginning that makes it inherently dangerous.

Manufacturing Defect: Defects that occur during the manufacture or assembly of the product.

Marketing Defect: Flaws in the marketing of a product, such as inadequate warning labels or insufficient instructions.

To use negligence as a basis for your product liability lawsuit, you have to prove the elements below exist:

  • Monsanto owed you a reasonable duty of care;
  • They breached that duty;
  • If it wasn’t for their actions, you wouldn’t have gotten cancer;
  • Monsanto should have known glyphosate found in Roundup would have led to health issues; and
  • You incurred damages as a result of your cancer diagnosis.

How Much Is My Case Worth?

It’s difficult to place an exact value on someone’s product liability case. Different factors can increase or decrease the amount of compensation the injured party deserves. A jury will start with your economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are expenses, while non-economic damages are losses that don’t come with a monetary value. Every state varies slightly regarding the types of damages product liability victims can pursue, but the most common include:

  • Hospital and doctor bills
  • Out of pocket expenses
  • Surgery costs
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional or psychological trauma
  • Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
  • Loss of companionship, affection, or consortium

Once a jury can establish the damages in your case, they will use additional information to come up with an appropriate multiplier to determine the total monetary award you deserve.

Factors that could contribute to a higher multiplier include:

  • Medical costs used mostly for treatment
  • Appointments with a medical doctor or at a hospital or clinic
  • Medication prescribed for the illness
  • Long-term treatment required
  • Permanency caused by the diagnosis, such as a scar, weakness, or loss of mobility
  • Long recovery period
  • Emotional or physical pain from the disease
  • Disruptions to daily life, such as missed days of work or a canceled vacation

Factors that could lead to a lower multiplier include:

  • You didn’t develop cancer
  • There was no permanent injury, scarring, or disfigurement
  • Most of your medical expenses were for diagnosing you instead of for treatment
  • You didn’t receive any prescription medications
  • You treated with non-M.D. providers
  • You only saw a doctor a few times
  • It took you a short period to recover
  • You didn’t suffer from physical or emotional problems

Contact a Roundup Cancer Lawsuit Attorney

Hotze Runkle PLLC takes pride in our commitment to ensuring our clients get a fair shot at the justice they deserve. You didn’t know cancer was a risk of using Roundup. If you had known, you probably wouldn’t have used it. The manufacturer hid the risks associated with using a product containing glyphosate. It’s a toxic chemical, and they should have told their consumers about the possible side effects.

We believe in holding companies responsible for their actions. We’re not afraid to fight against large corporations and take them to court. Their defense team will try to intimidate individuals handling their cases alone, but we will not allow them to intimidate us. When you hire us, we will use every resource available so you can afford your expenses with the compensation we win.

We offer a free consultation for anyone interested in receiving legal advice about their case. There’s no risk in meeting with one of our roundup lawsuit lawyers and discussing the options you have to pursue legal action.

To find out how Hotze Runkle PLLC can help you recover from your cancer diagnosis after using Roundup, call (877) 919-0830 to schedule your free consultation.