A Missouri appeals court has upheld a $1.25 million verdict against Monsanto, the manufacturer of the widely used herbicide Roundup. This decision stems from a lawsuit initiated by John Durnell, a Missouri resident who alleged that his prolonged exposure to Roundup led to his diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This claim highlights the ongoing concerns regarding the safety of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, and its potential links to serious health conditions, including cancer.
Background of the Roundup Weed Killer Lawsuit
According to the Roundup lawsuit, the plaintiff John Durnell began using Roundup in 1966, as part of the Soulard Restoration Project in St. Louis. After years of exposure to the herbicide, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. During the course of the Roundup trial, Durnell presented evidence that his illness was a direct result of using Roundup, which led the jury to conclude that Monsanto had failed to adequately warn consumers about the potential risks associated with the product.
The Potential Dangers of Glyphosate, Roundup’s Active Ingredient
Glyphosate has been a staple in agricultural practices for decades, marketed as a safe herbicide for both commercial and residential use. However, scientific studies have raised serious concerns about its safety. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” in 2015, fueling a wave of lawsuits from individuals claiming that their cancer diagnoses were linked to glyphosate exposure.
The Roundup Lawsuit: Court Proceedings and Verdict
In October 2023, a St. Louis jury awarded John Durnell $1.25 million in damages, affirming that Monsanto had neglected to inform consumers about the potential cancer risks associated with Roundup exposure. Following the verdict, Monsanto filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV), seeking to overturn the jury’s decision or request a retrial. However, the trial court denied this motion, prompting Monsanto to appeal the ruling to the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District. Monsanto argued on appeal that failure to warn claims involving Roundup weed killer should be preempted by federal law, indicating that it could not change Roundup warning labels without approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
On February 11, 2025, the Missouri Court of Appeals upheld the jury’s initial verdict, dismissing Monsanto’s arguments for overturning the decision. The court concluded that Monsanto had not demonstrated an irreconcilable conflict between state and federal law regarding warning labels. The court noted that there was no evidence indicating that Monsanto had informed the EPA of any justifications for changing its warning labels or that the EPA had denied such requests.
Roundup Claims Alleging a Link to Cancer
The court’s decision to uphold the $1.25 million in damages awarded to Durnell is significant not only for the plaintiff in this lawsuit but also for the thousands of individuals who have filed similar claims against Monsanto and its parent company, Bayer. With over 120,000 lawsuits alleging that Roundup exposure has resulted in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other cancers, the legal landscape surrounding glyphosate is evolving rapidly.
The litigation against Bayer and Monsanto began escalating after the IARC’s classification of glyphosate as a “probable human carcinogen” in 2015. Since then, research has increasingly linked glyphosate exposure to various health risks, particularly non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The growing body of evidence raises questions about the long-term safety of glyphosate-based herbicides and the responsibility of manufacturers to inform consumers of potential dangers.
The Future of Roundup Weed Killer and Glyphosate
As the legal battles continue, the future of Roundup and glyphosate remains uncertain. In 2021, Bayer announced plans to reformulate Roundup and eliminate glyphosate from consumer products, yet the company still faces numerous unresolved lawsuits. As more individuals become aware of the potential health risks associated with glyphosate, the company will likely continue to encounter challenges in addressing the ongoing litigation and public perception of its blockbuster weed killer.
Roundup Lawsuit Information
Roundup Lawsuits, Leading Justice
