Roundup Cancer Lawsuits: A Q&A with Attorney Jo Anna Pollock
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Despite Bayer and its subsidiary Monsanto offering nearly $11 billion to settle about 100,000 Roundup lawsuits in 2020, the litigation remains alive and well, and new Roundup cancer cases continue to be filed.
These lawsuits claim Roundup and its active ingredient glyphosate caused plaintiffs to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and other related cancers, while Bayer and Monsanto failed to warn the public about the risk and marketed the herbicide as safe.
Jo Anna Pollock is a partner in Simmons Hanly Conroy’s Complex Litigation Department, where she specializes in environmental litigation.
In an interview with Drugwatch, Pollock discusses the status of Bayer’s global Roundup settlement, who can file a Roundup lawsuit and what to expect from litigation in 2025.
Q: Why are people suing Bayer and Monsanto over Roundup?
Plaintiffs allege that Roundup, an herbicide, increases the risk of certain types of cancer such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. They claim Bayer and Monsanto failed to adequately warn users of the risks.
Q: Who is most likely to be affected by Roundup exposure?
Users of Roundup, including those who work in commercial or agricultural jobs, are most likely to be affected.
Q: Can people still file a Roundup lawsuit? What are the criteria to qualify?
People can still file a lawsuit. To qualify, one must have proof of significant exposure to Roundup, a cancer diagnosis linked to Roundup exposure (such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma), and a connection between the exposure and the diagnosis.
Q: How has Roundup exposure affected the lives of your clients?
Clients’ lives most often are not disrupted until years after their Roundup exposure when they start to experience symptoms associated with cancer. Once diagnosed, clients often undergo extensive medical treatment and must forgo earning an income.
Q: What types of injuries do you see claimed in Roundup lawsuits?
While we see various injuries, we most commonly see certain types of blood cancers linked to Roundup exposure including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and certain subtypes such as B-cell lymphomas and T-cell lymphomas.
Q: What can people expect when they contact a Roundup lawyer?
A Roundup lawyer will discuss a person’s exposure and medical history. The lawyer will also request medical records, including the records showing a diagnosis of cancer. After careful evaluation, the lawyer will advise whether they are available for retainer. The retainer is most often in a contingency retainer, where the person does not have to pay any money out of pocket.
Q: What is the status of the global settlement Bayer offered in 2020? What does it mean for Roundup litigation moving forward?
The settlement offered in 2020 only resolved about 100,000 lawsuits. Thousands of pending lawsuits remain, and new lawsuits are filed every day.
Q: Where is the Roundup litigation going in 2025?
Courts across the county will continue to hear evidence of a plaintiff’s exposure to Roundup and decide whether it caused their particular disease.
Q: What advice do you have for anyone thinking about filing a Roundup lawsuit?
Gather all medical records that you can, preserve any evidence of Roundup usage (including product containers) and consult an attorney experienced in Roundup and other toxic tort litigation to evaluate your case and guide you through the process.