Roundup Lawsuit Attorneys
If you developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma or a medical complication from Roundup exposure, contact the defective consumer products attorneys of Wallace Miller immediately to learn about your available legal options. We might be able to represent you in a mass tort lawsuit against Monsanto, the manufacturer of the popular herbicide. You could receive compensation to cover your medical treatment and other expenses.
Manufacturing companies must provide safe products for consumers. It’s crucial that they meet specific safety and quality standards to prevent injuries and death. They must also include warning labels, so consumers know the risks of using specific products. When manufacturer errors cause defects, the public is at risk of harm.
Monsanto made false claims regarding the safety of its product. The company did not provide adequate warnings about the dangers of the herbicide. It wasn’t until researchers performed studies that people realized the risk of developing cancer or other health issues from long-term exposure to the harmful chemicals in Roundup.
Wallace Miller has a team of highly knowledgeable and experienced lawyers. When you hire us, we will take over every legal aspect of your case. We can investigate the circumstances of your situation and gather the available evidence to prove that the manufacturer is at fault for your medical condition.
Our Roundup lawsuit attorneys understand the burden of pursuing legal action against a large company. It can be overwhelming, especially while you’re treating a serious disease like non-Hodgkin lymphoma. You can count on our team to provide the guidance and support you need to get through this challenging time in your life. We will be your advocate and fight by your side until the end.
Call Wallace Miller at (312) 261-6193 today for your free consultation and let us determine whether you’re eligible to join a mass tort case against the negligent manufacturer.
The History of Roundup
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Roundup for consumer use, allowing Monsanto to place the product on the market in the 1970s. Farmers, agricultural workers, and gardeners used the herbicide to kill weeds and prevent the growth of unwanted plants.
Roundup contains an active ingredient called glyphosate. After application, the leaves absorb this ingredient, and it travels to other parts of the plant, including its roots. This prevents further growth and kills the plant eventually.
In 2000, the patent Monsanto had for using glyphosate in Roundup expired. This led to multiple companies adding the active ingredient to their products to kill weeds and unwanted vegetation effectively. Over 750 herbicides containing glyphosate ended up on the market by 2015.
Glyphosate is a Group 2A carcinogen. That means it is a probable human carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded, after reviewing the scientific evidence and evaluating the substance’s effects on animals, that there is a risk to the animals of cancer from exposure to glyphosate. They determined humans could also develop cancer.
Increased Risk of Glyphosate Exposure
Certain groups are more likely to come in contact with glyphosate because of frequent and prolonged Roundup use. The most common groups at risk of exposure include:
- Landscapers
- Farmers
- Groundskeepers
- Pesticide and herbicide applications
- Professional gardeners
- Agricultural workers
Although long-term exposure can increase the risk of cancer and other adverse effects, these groups aren’t the only people who can come in contact with glyphosate. Anyone could inhale, ingest, or touch Roundup due to contributing factors such as:
- Drinking contaminated water
- Inhaling particles near an application area
- Touching a plant treated with the herbicide
- Eating food contaminated by Roundup
If you think you suffered Roundup exposure and notice unusual symptoms, you should seek immediate medical care. You should also reach out to Wallace Miller so one of our Roundup lawsuit attorneys can determine whether you’re entitled to compensation.
Common Complications of Roundup Exposure
Researchers believe exposure to toxic chemicals such as glyphosate is a risk factor for developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although many agencies debate whether a link exists between Roundup and cancer, people worldwide are suffering various complications, such as:
- Autism
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Colitis
- Chronic kidney disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Mantel cell lymphoma
- Heart disease
- Anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma
- Birth defects
- Parkinson’s disease
- Hairy cell leukemia
- Fertility issues
- Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)
- Acute T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma
- Liver disease
- Respiratory illnesses
If you develop any medical problem after Roundup exposure, it’s critical to start preparing your case against the manufacturer. There are time constraints for filing lawsuits, and if you run out of time, you could lose your right to compensation.
Common Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is cancer of the lymphocytes in the lymphatic system. Lymphoma can form in lymph tissue in any area of the body, such as:
- Spleen
- Bone marrow
- Thymus
- Digestive tract
- Lymph nodes
- Adenoids and tonsils
The lymph system contains two types of lymphocytes:
- B lymphocytes (B cells) – B cells are responsible for making antibodies. They protect people from viruses and bacteria.
- T lymphocytes (T cells) – T cells boost or slow down activities of other cells found in the immune system.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can cause various symptoms depending on the affected area of the body and the type of lymphoma that develops. The most common symptoms of NHL include:
- Swollen abdomen
- Chills
- Frequent or severe infections
- Weight loss
- Shortness of breath or cough
- Fatigue
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Easy bleeding or bruising
- Chest pressure or pain
- Feeling full after eating a small amount
Some people also experience B symptoms, such as:
- Drenching night sweats
- Fever without an infection
- Losing weight without trying
Enlarged lymph nodes are one of the most common signs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Seeing or feeling them might be possible if they’re close to the surface of the body. Typically, they aren’t painful and appear as lumps beneath the skin.
Other symptoms can appear when lymphoma forms in certain areas of the body. For example, lymphoma beginning in the abdomen can cause abdominal pain or swelling. Lymphoma of the stomach or intestines can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Compensation for Roundup Exposure
If you believe your medical condition or non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis is from your exposure to Roundup, you could pursue legal action against Monsanto. You could file an individual lawsuit for the health issues you experienced from exposure to glyphosate.
If you qualify for a mass tort lawsuit, you can join other plaintiffs in a single legal action against the manufacturer. Mass tort cases combine cases from a large group of individuals with similar injuries and pursue compensation from the same defendant.
The compensation you receive could compensate you for such losses as:
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
You might be able to recover exemplary or punitive damages in the lawsuit as well. This form of compensation is available when defendants display especially egregious or negligent behavior that leads to injuries.
If your family member died from glyphosate exposure, you could pursue a wrongful death case against the manufacturer. However, every state has different laws regarding the type of compensation you can recover and who can file a wrongful death lawsuit.
For example, some states allow compensation for medical bills and funeral expenses, while others only allow financial recovery for intangible losses, such as emotional pain and suffering. A surviving family member, such as a spouse or child, can file a lawsuit in multiple states. However, others only allow the personal representative of the deceased’s estate to pursue legal action.
Statute of Limitations for Roundup Exposure
Every state has a statute of limitations for lawsuits. This law dictates the timeframe you have to file a lawsuit against someone else for your injury or medical condition. Most states impose timeframes between one and five years. That means you have a specific number of years from the date of your injury to initiate your lawsuit.
For example, if the statute of limitations specifies a three-year period in your state, you must file your lawsuit within three years from the date of your non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis or health issue due to Roundup exposure.
Many states also allow plaintiffs to toll the statute of limitations period. That means you could delay or pause the timeframe until certain events occur. Some laws grant the ability to wait until the plaintiff’s 18th or 21st birthday if they are a minor at the time of their injury. Other laws pause the running of the clock if the defendant leaves the state temporarily.
Sometimes, you don’t realize the effects of exposure to a toxic substance until the statutory period expires. If that happens, you might have additional time to file your lawsuit. The law in certain states allows you to pursue legal action within a specific timeframe from the date you discover or should have discovered that someone’s negligence caused your medical problem.
Contact Us
At Wallace Miller, our Roundup lawsuit attorneys will protect your rights while representing you against Monsanto. We will explore all available options and create a strategy to meet the unique needs of your case.
We believe in open and honest communication, so our clients always know the status of their cases. You can expect to be our top priority from the moment you retain our legal services.
If you developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma or other complications from exposure to Roundup, call Wallace Miller for your free consultation at (312) 261-6193 right now.